I am currently running a standard MSD 8360 billet distributor with vac advance, external SS coil with a 6A box. Unfortunately the 6A box is cutting out and I had to remove it from the circuit and go right to the coil alone. MSD said it is a max of $65 to repair it. Looks like I can get a decent HEI distributor for not much more. Any thoughts?

 

my answer will always be HEI, but not one of those cheapies that you can buy brand new for $65.. get a stock one out of a late 70's something or other (truck, preferably) and recurve it to fit your engine.

 

I ran a large cap HEI with a stock GM module and coil for many years. Spun the engine to 7000 rpm with no issues. I had a MSD cap and rotor on it.

I upgraded to an aftermarket ignition and distributor when I needed more options like rev limiters, etc.

 

Agree with both of the above...

The high end ignition systems will do very little more most people with stock or mild engine builds.

It is not needed or useful until you get into very high cylinder pressures, really big cams, very high RPM, Boost, big dose of nitrous, etc and need the extras like low and high side rev limiters, start retard, boost retard, top end retard, etc.