Where can I find a HEI setup for Studebaker 259engine?Is there a conversion kit? Someone sell one ? What will fit and work? Thanks in advance
You can use your stock points distributor with a Ford thick film ignition module and get a powerful electronic ignition very easily. The points will last 50000 miles because they act only as a trigger and carry practically no current. For best results use the Ford coil. Or you could buy a Pertronix, they make them for everything else.
Post your question on the Studebaker Drivers Club forum. The technical ***istance there is top notch.
Any HEI's have been custom made. There's three Pertronix modules available for the stock Delco housing, Crane I believe makes one, a Mallory (Unilite) complete distributor is available. Or do what myself and a couple others have done, make up a crank trigger ignition. I used MSD parts. Not to difficult, and you can't any better than a crank triggered ignition. This is on my hot rodded 259 V-8. Mike
I've got completely rebuilt Delco and Prestolite distributors set up with performance advance curve and converted to the Mopar electronic trigger. You can use them with the MSD box for the best available ignition or use the OEM Mopar solid state boxes. PM me if interested. jack vines
Dave Thibeault sells a real nice Mallory unit that drops right in... Dave & Janet Thibeault 13 Nick Lane Maynard, MA 01754 978-897-3158 STUDEDAVE@aol.com
"You can use your stock points distributor with a Ford thick film ignition module and get a powerful electronic ignition very easily. The points will last 50000 miles because they act only as a trigger and carry practically no current. For best results use the Ford coil." Rusty, do you have more info on this procedure? I've got a 259 that I'd like electronic ignition in too.
early Studes used the Prestolite dist...about 1962 they went to the Delco-Remedy....should be an easy deal with the later.....me - I have no issues with changing out points every now and then....
Actually, Studebaker V8s used the Delco from '51 on, sometimes using both Delco and Prestolite in the same years. To confuse matters more, around '61-62, the Lark V8s got the Delco window version while the Hawks and trucks got the older Delco and '63-64 R1/R2 Hawks, Larks and Avantis had a dual point Prestolite. Any old Delco or Prestolite usually needs a complete rebuild, as bushings are worn, advance is sticky and in the case of the Prestolite, the pivot pins of the advance mechanism wear. The main reason I convert the Stude V8s to electronics is the distributor is in the far back of the engine compartment where the points often can't be seen and must be adjusted by feel. Trying to get the dwell perfect, especially on the dual point models is just a PITA. jack vines
I have done this on different cars, using either the old Chrysler module or the Ford thick film from the 90s. They come off Fords with distributors, there are 2 models. One kind fastens to the distributor, the other kind is remote mounted on an aluminum heat sink near the radiator. I have found the heat sink kind on Probe, Thunderbird, and Aerostar. The module is about the size of a cell phone.
Here is the diagram for the module http://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/uploads/newbb/34_4af9da90e596f.gif
There's also Roro-Faze. They make brand new distributors for the Stude engine. You can have it in points or electronic version. Not overly cheap, but for a shaft that runs on ball bearings, custom distributor, it's hard to beat. I have an older one that needs some...cleanup. It was "supposed to be" in better shape. I guess that's what I get for buying used thru the internet. http://roto-faze.com/ Mike
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