I just called around locally and nationally to order a new HEI ignition and was told that the units made by AC Delco for GM Performance Parts are no longer available! And I was willing to ante up for a more expensive, but reliable, U.S. made piece! The only units available are cheaper, made off shore. Anybody else have a similar experience? When did this happen? Why? There must be thousands of GM small blocks running around that will need a new ignition someday. Anybody have any recommendations for a substitute? I see plenty of discussion on here about the other, cheapie units - drat!
Are you talking about an entire distributor? If so...beware the cheap chinese junk out there. I bought one, new in the box and it lasted a whole 15 mins before it became all loose and stopped working. I then bought a used GM HEI off Clist and it has been fine.
Haven't tried to purchase one, but I just received the newest Pace Performance catalog this week and it lists three GMPP distributors. HEI with cast aluminum housing used with most GMPP crate engines, #93440806, $172.95; Late model EFI distributor used on late model fuel injected GM performance production vehicles, #1103952, $219.95; and the Ram Jet 350 & 502 distributor used on the Ram Jet crate engines, #1104060, $194.95. www.PACEPERFORMANCE.COM 888-522-8127 toll free, M-F 9-6/Sat 9-5 EST. Hope they have what your looking for.
I needed one for a customers 1990 350 pickup the other day, discontinued. Get a cheap one and put a good delco module in it!
This is disturbing if true. What are some of the possible reasons for this?: 1) gm managment are still idiots (highly probable) 2) The demand for these units has dropped dramatically and continues to drop as cars originally equipped with HEI units go out of service. 2a) The demand(profit) of these units outstrips the overall risk/expenditure to produce/sell them----not enough profit to justify continued production.
ya'll know that Ac Delco is nothing more than a reboxer right? they haven't "made" anything for years, and most of what they rebox is that wonder stuff you call junk from China. Gm now uses companies named Denso, Delphi and Akebono. You want an American made Dist.? you'd have a better chance with MSD or any other performance company.
The module is not the only issue with the cheapies. The advance pins fall out and the weights are not heat treated like factory G.M. and the clearances are all over the place. So the Chinese shit eats itself up in a hurry. Usually less than 1000 mi. I rebuild the factory G.M. units frequently, they are by far the best.
I've had one of the "cheap" ones off ebay in the daily for over a year and it has worked perfectly. I've got a half dozen old ones hanging on the wall but haven't done anything with them. A guy could check wit GMC Bubba and see if he will rebuild your core with new bushings other pieces it needs. Outside of the electronic items that a guy can find quality replacement pieces locally anywhere or through the net the only trouble areas are the pins for the advance weights and the bushings in the housing. I've found in the past though that usually problems with Hei distributors are originally caused by other pieces of the ignition system being a bit suspect. Suspect coils can cause module failure along with high resistance in the secondary system causing problems. And this is one place that you don't want to go cheap on replacement parts and try to buy original Delco if possible.
The information you received was incorrect. I had to wait to get to work this morning to check it out. P/N 93440806 distributor is available from GM, it is a direct ship item, this means that it is shipped direct from the vendor, whoever that may be to the dealer. The billet HEI is stocked at a GM facility, Plant 76, Lansing Michigan warehouse. Stock is available for both of these, the direct ship can take up to 10 days normally, Lansing, not sure of the time factor as it may be shipped common carrier or by GM contract carrier, don't know anymore. I used to know when I worked out there in dealerships but that was a LONG time ago. I checked this out on the GM dealer automated phone system, this information is correct as of 8 A.M. this morning. FYI, I am working at a GM Performance Dealership, and a lot of years behind the counter and if anyone has a question regarding availibility or a technical question I will try and help you out. PM me with a contact email or a phone number. No hard sell, just trying to help if I can.
I recently bought a distributor from GMC Bubba that works as well as any HEI unit and isn't nearly as big and ugly. I opted for the points setup but he asked me if I wanted a module, so that is another option.
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