The Midnight Mechanic Tech Tip - GM HEI distributor tune up

Watch as we show you how to replace the distributor cap, rotor and coil in a GM large cap HEI.
MSD Cap and Rotor - www.amazon.com...
Ignition Coil - www.amazon.com...

[@960wattoffgridrv]

On my 454, I simply stretched the springs about 1/8 inch to recurve the mechanical advance. I put the vacuum advance to manifold vacuum. I set up the total advance to 37° and base timing at 4°btdc before I modified the advance springs. I didn't buy an overpriced gimmicky MSD dickstributor. I stuck with the stock GM HEI. I've run the nastiest machines on the streets since I was a teenager. I always stuck with GM V8 power. My dad was a mopar guy since I was a kid. He's terrified of my vehicles! my stuff is mostly junkyard built. I don't have any flashy bright toy parts on my engine! Even if a part fails, I can walk into any parts store and still get an OEM replacement no question! These so called performance brands are an overpriced gimmick for regular street daily drivers. Unless you're hitting the racetrack during the season, a regular daily driven vehicle doesn't need that MSD junk! stick with OEM replacement parts and even if it breaks down, you can still fix it fast and cheap! Once you start getting into non factory or performance parts just because some idiot told you to get the parts, you're just screwing yourself out of a lot of money!

[@jerrybennett7856]

Glad to see i am not the only person that struggles with that rear j clip.

[@TheMidnightMechanic]

Such a pain in this car. I had a screwdriver that I had cut down just for this reason, but couldn't find it.

[@Anthony-ue4zm]

the ignition control module seem to go out with these as well

[@fullcirclefarm]

I just found this I change my module every spring before I put the big block on the road seems like the heat love’s modules

[@inell6]

Should the ground wire from the coil be screwed into the same "corner " as the ground silver clip that slides in the top of the cap, or does it matter? Thanks.

[@muffdiver69x]

I seen that & questioned that as well......I'm pretty sure that goes accros the way,opposite of where he put it.....I don't think it'll start/run that way.

[@Donttlettgo]

I have tbi 5.0 and haven't tried putting on hei yet don't know

[@craigrichardson8096]

You have certainly realized by now that you marked the #1 spark plug location on the distributor in the wrong position.....(for a GM vehicle)

[@TheMidnightMechanic]

That's where #1 was at on this car.

[@Nomadcreations]

@@TheMidnightMechanic Yep, .... It All Depends on Who Was the Last Person To R&R The dist & How they Placed the Gearing & the #1 Plug Position

[@keithgregg9218]

That’s #1 on mine. I saw a video on accel distributor and they were wired totally different

[@smokeshow973]

I have a sbc 355 nothing to crazy it has 0 miles but it's in the truck and been started plenty of times no issues ,it has a brand new msd pro billet hei black edition on it with rev limiter module ,the problem I'm having is now itll start sometimes and not alot of times it seems when it starts it idles to about 1k then suddenly dies,wont start again crank for days,today I put the old style module and hei and boom it started then 1 minute later died wont start do u think it's the pickup I've tested everything and I'm out of options, motor has been in the truck for 5 years , ty for any info

[@lclements9263]

Get a new distributor standard AC Delco

[@gregoryshockley5753]

Show it out car made a big difference

[@kbrown1969]

Crossed my battery wires and now won’t fire?

[@TheMidnightMechanic]

Have you checked your fuses?

[@roubenbird]

Whoa whoa whoa... that still has AC?!

[@TheMidnightMechanic]

Well, it still has the AC box, but that's about it. 🤣

[@JONNYHOTROD]

CRAP!!!!

[@lordsauto]

u need dia grease bud.