im wondering if id be able to switch to HEI from the stock set up, if so would i have to replace the distributor? and what other parts might i have to replace. Im wanting to upgrade the ignition and plan on getting on of the MSD kits

 

Your car already has HEI. It's just referred to as "small cap HEI with external coil" since the coil is not in the distributor cap like the older HEIs. The stock ignition can handle a a good bit of power.

If you really want to upgrade the stock ignition, than just get stock replacement stuff from MSD.

Cap and rotor- http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerc...24&prmenbr=361
Coil- http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerc...99&prmenbr=361
Spark plug wires- http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerc...42&prmenbr=361

They even make a stock replacement distributor if you want one- http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerc...02&prmenbr=361

 

benm, thanks thats exactly what i wanted to know, and also appreciate the links.

I forgot to ask, what about the replacement chip or whatever it is in the distributor, is it worth it to replace that also

 

Leave your distributor alone. There is no chip in the dizzy anyways

 

Shifty's right, there is no chip in the distributor, but it sounds like your referring to the ignition control module. They do make aftermarket "performance" ones (MSD doesn't make them, I think Accel does), but I don't really think they are necessary (I could be wrong, though).

 

ya the "chip" i was asking about is the ignition control module, just couldnt think of the name. anyone else done these upgrades, if so are they worth it

 

They aren't worth it. The stock HEI is a pretty good ignition to start with. If you really want to boost things a tad you should look into an aftermarket coil. Later down the road you can look into an aftermarket ingnition box as well. They don;t do much for power but they can improve your mileage.

These cars have tons of weak links and the ignition isn't one of them. I would spend my money elsewhere.

 

im gonna be doing headers at the same time i do the ignition, and looking more for better gas mileage not power right now

 

ive asked alot of people about a differance in their ignition system after switching to an msd or accel hi-perf ones and they could notice no differance...the stock ignition is a really great design...but thats just what ive heard...and im still thinking of putting and msd ign system on my rs but it is at the back of the list now...

 

i'd think the only engines that would really benefit from the use of an ignition box and matching components would be the really crazy N/A and turbo charged, N2O boosted and blown engines that are making rediculous Hp & tq numbers that need the extra spark(s).

Shifty has a valid point, spend your $$ elsewhere on your build.

I went down this road once before and decided that it wasnt worth it considering how much it costs for the proper parts and what I might gain from doing this. I got more from chip tuning, and the removal of +4 plugs i spent $50+ on plugs just to have trashy luck with tuning them in. IIRC there is guy on this board that is getting 22mpg on his 305tbi with stock equiptment that aint too shabby.

 

i am actually. getting the mpg.

 

the best mod I ever did for my ignition was to tighten the ground screw insided the dissy. I swear I have been chasing a miss for over a year that would come and go, no matter what I did to the ignition. Go figure the strap that holds the condensor is also a ground.

 

Belive it or not when my LO3 was stock I would get 31mpg on highway runs. These cars make great cruisers