Is there any advantage of swapping in a HEI distributor/coil in place of a regular points distributor/coil system (305 TBI), or a matter of fact any car. Both the HEI and points ignitions are currently stock. Is it worth doing it, or should I just leave it alone?

 

I'd leave the HEI in there. Points = maintainance.

 

okay.....as i read it you have a points system now and want an HEI?.....but you say its a stock tbi.....i believe all 3rd gens had HEIs from the factorty...perhaps you have the small cap HEI?

 

As I recall our cars have a HEI system... 48,000 V Coil if I'm not mistaken... the only real upgrade to it I can imagine is a Jacobs 65,000 V setup, but that'll run in the $700 range or so... not really necessary until you can make higher power anyways (300+ HP). Will it help? Sure! A lot? Not really...

I upgraded my coil recently when I did a tuneup... MSD blaster coil. I know it helped a lot though I have yet to really compare coils. It shouldn't be a hard deal considering they're both external and easilly swappable...

 

I agree withthe last couple posts... points have been long gone since 1974, I believe. You already have an HEI distributor with an external coil. The only benefit I see with an external coil over an internal one, is heat dissipation (spelling ). Points is never better then HEI, in my honest opinion.

 

I've seen dyno shoot outs with HEI and points systems that were both modified, and the points systems were equal in performance to the HEI system. This is when the points are new however. With a points system you need to set the gap between the points and condensers, much like setting spark plug gap. Over time, the gap increases with wear, and the points system becomes inefficent, which is not a good thing for engine performance. HEI is more or less maintance free, aside from caps and rotors. My 76 RD400 motorcycle has a points ignition system as well. I'm probably going to convert it, and get rid of the points. There are CDI kits that replace the points system, which is tempermental.

 

Just to confirm- no GM vehicle has had a points-type distributor since 1974, period.

You have-as already mentioned- an HEI, external coil, electronic-advance distributor.

Older points systems were extremely sensitive to fluctuations in the coil input voltage, wore out quickly and were extremely susceptible to humidity/moisture. The ONLY reason to have a points-type system is for 'originality' in a pre-1975 vehicle- there is no technical or functional advantage to them.

 

Thanks for the input guys, I guess I just have it all wrong about what is in the car already. I didnt know that there were HEI units with two different coils (internal and external) I just sort of assumed that since it looked like a points it was, well guess I learned something new than!