Ford HEI Distributor

[@erictate9891]

I have been using an Ebay $50 (back then) on my daily driver for over 14 years. I have since changed the cap and rotor but just for normal tune up. I do keep an extra Ebay $50 one in the trunk....just in case. Maybe I got lucky and got a good one.

[@Atomsinaction-uk3jw]

I think they are decent for the price. At this point, many of the big brands are either imported or assembled from overseas parts.

[@frankglasgow]

Mine wobbles vs the shake of the engine with the cam. Its a 351m that I built. What I'm saying is the distributor moves differently than the shaking when the engine is idling. They don't move together.

[@Atomsinaction-uk3jw]

That definitely sounds like a problem. I would suspect that the cam gear and distributor gear aren’t meshing properly, or there may be a defect in the machining process. I would be inclined to remove the distributor and at least inspect the drive gear. Thanks for the feedback, it’s good to know.

[@frankglasgow]

@@Atomsinaction-uk3jw have had the distributor out at least 5 times. The gear looks fine as far as wear. It has a Howards roller cam in the engine with tie bar lifters.

[@frankglasgow]

Also, the distributor feels fine when I turn it by hand when it's out of the engine.

[@Atomsinaction-uk3jw]

This is a long shot. If memory serves me correctly, as it has been many years; if the Block has been decked, or the heads have been milled past a certain tolerance the distributor will need to be shimmed. In essence, the intake manifold sets lower Than factory specifications. I believe this condition is called gear climb. Also, in some occasions, a condition called cam walk can occur, which could potentially cause a similar condition….. just a couple things to consider. I hope you get to the bottom of it.

[@georgeroberts613]

These cheap ones seem to be going through shaft bushings?

[@Atomsinaction-uk3jw]

I have installed several, they have worked well so far.

[@Riggs-j3y]

My Chinese knock of is throwing the timing off. Dumping close to 20 degrees in and causing detonation. I’d like to try something different.

[@Atomsinaction-uk3jw]

I’m not surprised, I’m sure the quality can vary from one to another.

[@jimclarke1108]

The Chinese HEI has the vacuum advance module coming on way to early and giving wrong ignition timing spark

[@Riggs-j3y]

@@jimclarke1108 can it be corrected or should I go ahead and plan on making a change?

[@jimclarke1108]

@@Riggs-j3y Try to fit the genuine vacuum module, i did✌

[@Riggs-j3y]

@ hmmm. Just the module? Is the hei just too weak allowing the vacuum to come in too fast? Can I get one at O Reillys ?

[@aceaaron19]

I bought two Chi-com HEI distributors (one from Ebay and one from Amazon) and while the Amazon one was a little nicer, the eBay one I'd still trust. The way I see it is I'll buy a coil and ignition module from a parts house as a backup and when the one that came with it fails I'll put a lifetime warranty one in it's place. If it fails again, warranty the sucker out.

[@Atomsinaction-uk3jw]

I agree. It was surprising to see how well the off brand distributor from Amazon was made.