73 distributor & a new crate engine

[mikejpss]

Looking at changing out the original engine on a 73 and dropping in a new crate.
Question: What are my options for a distributor since the original dist. has the tach drive in it?
Do I use the original dist. and upgrade / rebuild it along with a new crate;
-OR-
What else is out there.????

Second question:
If i use the original dist. - can it be converted to an electronic spark- type dist.?????(assuming the original is a points type-havent seen the original yet)
The new (to me) car is being shipped at this moment and have not seen it, just making plans.
Thanks for any help.

 

[Scooter76]

My 70 SS Chevelle I used to own I used a Malory unilite conversion with in the stock points dist. Never had any problem with it & outward apearing looked stock, which was my whole reason for it. The HEI is a good conversion, but you have the tach drive to deal with & does'nt keep the origional look for your year car. They are avalible but expensive.

 

[Lucy64]

Look at the MSD units. I have the MSD with tach drive in the newly rebuilt 350 in my 64. If you use the MDS billet unit you will also have to get the MSD 6A or 6AL box. I have the 6AL mounted on the fenderwell battery area. This setup will still use your stock tach drive and the MSD system offers much more spark.

 

[Jack]

Don't put the cart ahead of the horse.

A points distributor in good condition and properly set up works VERY well.

You don't have the car yet ... so ... you may not know condition/originality of distributor.

There are new, aftermarket, stand alone, "tach drive" HEI distributors out there ... ranging from about $200 on ebay to about $500 for the Davis from Performance Distributors ... they DO NOT require a separate CD ignition amplifier box (as the MSD 6 series mentioned by Lucy64). TDHEI are clones of very reliable 1'st gen GM HEI but do have a mech tach drive fitted. Everyone has their own opinion & experiences. For the typical street hi-po sbc/BBC (with PROPERLY tuned/jetted carb), I do not think CD boxes show significant improvement over Non-CD systems ... certainly not enough to warrant their cost, potential reliability, repair availability issues.

IMHO, the best distributor system for quick, in-a-hurry, on-the-road availability of IGNITION parts (those that make the motor run) is a 1'st gen HEI or clone thereof. Next choice for same run parts availability is an OE points setup.

I've run all kinds of ignition: from OE points to MSD 6600 HVC. Depending on application & intended use, they all have their place.
JACK:gap

 

[mikejpss]

wow

Hey Jack, thanks for the info. Thats the info & advice I was looking for.
The car should be delivered next week, and I'll have a better idea of what to do.

Speaking of the delivery, I had the option to hire a transport company, or let one of these LSU fans drive it home after the Final Four tourney in Indy.
Can you imagine an LSU fan in a Corvette heading home after the Final Four, mainly Interstate driving?

I hired the transport company!
Again, thanks for the responses.

 

[waterboy1976]

I have and older Dual point tach drive distributor in my 73. The motor is far from stock and have yet to have a problem......Get it rebuilt and adjusted right and its smooth sailing from there....