What exactly is different from an HEI distributor and a stock one? How can they be told apart by looking at them? I saw the hei offers either a remote coil or a coil that's mounted on top, with a coil mounted on top it's obvious, but what about remote mount? Just trying to understand what the difference is and also what the functions of EACH pin on the igntion module is. Thanks!

 

Stock distributors are all HEI. HEI is GM's name for their electronic ignition systems used since about 1975 or so.

 

So when people refer to remote coil mount hei that means the coil just isn't mounted directly on top of the distributor, but rather a bit away from it?

 

Yes, the "remote coil" or "small cap" HEI uses a separate coil. The "coil-in-cap" or "large cap" HEI uses the coil mounted inside the cap.

 

wasnt there a arcing issue or somthing with the small cap hei ?