Hot Rods Fiero distributor in Chevy stovebolt six?

I bought a 48 Canadian Pontiac with a 261 Chevy block and 235 head. Yes it runs really well - until recently. It is fitted with an 86 Fiero v6 distributor, which appears to have some wear. Is there any advantage to having this set up? Would I be just as well off with a new HEI one specifically made for the Chevy six? Thanks in advance.

 

I´m just building a 261 too , I didn´t know a Fiero V6 distibutor would fit in an old stovebolt. Thanks for sharing this info!

 

My guess is that it was used for HEI and eliminate points. I’d bet if you pull it out, you would find some modifications to make it work.

 

If you can find an original point distributor, then use it....they work fine. There's nothing wrong with points.

 

The small cap HEI from the GM 60 degree V6 can be modified to fit..I did one about 20 years ago, memory is fuzzy but it required turning down housing and shaft modifications...The Stovebolt guy used to or still does sell them

 

I did one about the same time, I slotted the shaft, used a flat bar of SS, drilled and pinned it. The SS “floated” (gimme a break, not a machinist)

It worked ok at speed, but I was running the generator on my 235, saw no reason to convert to an alternator just to be able to idle at 600 rpm. Out it went, back went the original.

 

Are you saying the HEI drew too much current for a generator?
Back then I did comparisons of the GM HEI , points and points triggering a Mallory multi spark CD....On a modified GMC 302 the points worked more or less the same...The Hei and Mallory were better when it came to firing a leaner mixture when I was tuning the carb for better fuel mileage..

 

At idle, had to keep playing with the gas pedal to keep it running. I did put a 14 gauge wire to it. I figured just didn’t have enough juice for the HEI at idle.

Edit: My thoughts were the HEI needed more power at idle than the generator could provide.

 

When I had a 261 in my truck I used the Langdon HEI (http://www.langdonsstovebolt.com/store/#!/Ignition-Systems/c/18665949). Worked great, one of the best mods I ever made.
don

 

A newer hei distributor from a v6 or inline 6 will drop in

you need to machine the base of the hei distributor down where the factory hold down goes so you can use the hold down originally from the 235/261.

as squirrel said nothing wrong with the points distributor .

I had a duel point tach drive unit off a big truck or “ corvette “ in my 261 .

 

GM HEI draws about 4 amps at idle..When first switched on it can draw 25 amps briefly...Points on a ballast , about 9 volts ,may draw about 3 amps....

 

I can see this engraved in your grave marker as a fitting epitaph

 

Well, if you have a modern car with an alternator, non-EFI disconnect the alternator and take it for a drive. I think you’ll find out that when you are idling with your foot on the brake, the ignition won’t be happy. About the same thing happens with a generator at idle. You can see it on the amp gauge the needle goes to the discharge side. Really noticeable even watching with only the parking light on, they will dim at idle, brighten up as the generator speeds up. What do parking lights draw? Maybe 2 to 4 amps total or so?

 

I've never seen the Fiero distributor swap thing.
Since the Fiero uses an ECM does that car have one on it or have they done a stand alone and possibly is that a big part of the reason it is now acting up?

Top to Bottom Fiero, 250 Hei and stock 216 distributor. I see putting a Fiero unit in a 216/235 as being a serious effort compared to the straight six 250 distributor. Photos are not size matched.

 

You could always use a Bosch distributor from an Aussie GM Holden grey motor (1948-1963). I believe they are a direct bolt-in swap for the Stovebolt dizzy.

Probably doesn't help you none (it would be reverse engineering of a weird kind), but an interesting thought.

Cheers,
Harv

 

I’ve seen the 60* distributors used due to the small cap. Looks better than the large cap HEI.
I never had an issue with my points set up on my 235 other than a bad ballast.
I have a large cap HEI that came with a 261 I bought.
Found this and thought it was interesting
http://devestechnet.com/Home/HEIgnition

I’ve wondered from the guys that have ran an HEI on these. Are they worth the effort or just fixing a problem that really might not exist?

 

I looked at that on from Daves tech net and it is somewhat on the line of a Pertronix swap but uses HEI tech.
I'm still of the keep it simple school when it comes to changes and especially ignition. I far prefer systems that use common oem parts that are usually readily available at most parts houses. It's a lot easier to walk into an O'Reilly's or Napa in the middle of Out of the way Wyoming on a road trip to Bonneville and ask for an ignition module or pickup coil for a 78 Chevy C 10 than it is for a 62 Holden. Or for Pertronix pieces for that matter in a lot of places. That beats calling Summit or Speedway and asking if they can send the part red label next day air to the sage brush motel in out of the way wyo with attention to you too.

 

He's in England, so none of those ignition parts will be available at the local jobber's.

 

Tom Langdon - Stovebolt 6 Co. in Michigan makes this type of distributor conversion for the 6 cylinder Chevy , GMC and Mopar flathead 6 engines. I had one for a Mopar engine, best ignition replacement part I ever purchased.

 

I should have mentioned he uses the Chevy 2.8 HEI components so parts are easy to find.

 

So this Fiero distributor has mechanical advance only?

 

The distributer I used had mechanical advance but I don't remember what exactly the type of module..I'm thinking it was a GM 4 pin along with a .6 ohm low resistance external coil.. The big cap uses a .6 ohm internal coil...

 

Large cap HEI’s are a PITA for clearance with some aftermarket side plates. The Fiero was small cap and makes it nice. I installed a Tom Langdon in my sons GMC even tho I had other ignitions but none had vacuum. Fantastic unit.
An early style small cap 194-250 Chev point style can be converted it you like points with locked down base. Lots of options available today.

 

I believe it was the 4 pin Tony. I bought another 4 pin to replace it but never got around to that. I went back to the points distributer that you also gave me when the HEI went bad. Up until that point it worked flawlessly, for a long time, until that point when it didn't work at all.

 

Larry, a primary cause of module failures is the coil having an internal short...I got that coil from Summit, some sort of brand name. Later on I was informed the oil filled canister coils are less likely to fail....
25 years of bought used Chevy O/T trucks and never an ignition problem...But did a failure with a large cap HEI on a 261 ....

 

I got 3 years worth of daily driving out of my chain store points.
I guess the only reason I’d consider the electronic would be for a performance reason.
I’ve wondered if the mpg increase associated with swapping from points to electronic is real.
I’ve never had a starting issue with healthy points.
Fuel evaporation is gonna happen with todays fuel no matter what ignition set up ya use.
I’m about to replace a MSD with a points set up. Only because the MSD set up isn’t needed in a flatbed work beater.
The MSD will end up in something more sporty

 

Points are fine if you are good with the way they work. Plus they are fine if you aren't putting serious miles on your ride every week. To some driving their car a lot means running down a couple of miles to the coffee crew gathering at the cafe a few mornings a week and to a show and tell within 30 miles on a weekend.
Some of us drive our hot rod or custom to work every day and rack up miles plus taking on extended road trips.

I've run points in just about every old rig I had with old meaning pre 1975. That includes several trips back and forth to Texas from Washington but in truth the engine in the 48 at that time or the engine in the 51 Merc or the one in the 70C 10 all would have worked better with an electronic ign.

My flathead won't get any non points upgrades. Truth is it is not going to be a road rig like the 48 will be and may actually ride on the trailer behind the 48 at times. No need for anything exotic because the longest road trip will be around 200 miles one way once a year. That's the difference, miles and lots of miles and not these "I drive it all the time" 100 mile a month total that a lot of guys who think they drive a lot barely rack up.

 

I must be doing it wrong. I’ve put more miles on points than electronic.

what makes them less drivable?
Most of my dailies (10k miles a year) had em.