HEI Dist.

[Rich Novak]

Will A HEI dist work on a 1972 225 sterndrive electric shift . I read that the electronic conversion kits cause problems with shifting.

 

[Scott Danforth]

NO. An HEI is NOT safe in a boat. No automotive electrical parts are.

 

[Rich Novak]

Don't they offer a Marine HEI ???

 

[Bondo]

Don't they offer a Marine HEI ???

Ayuh,.... There's an aftermarket one called D.U.I. that Looks like an HEI,....

The Delco Voyager is the go-to aftermarket now a days,....

 

[bruceb58]

1972 OMC is an electric shift so need to worry about anything you do with a distributor.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Yes, Davis Unified Ignition has an aftermarket HEI looking marine distributor. however HEI is GM's High Energy Ignition which is strictly an Automotive ignition.

 

[bruceb58]

1972 OMC is an electric shift so need to worry about anything you do with a distributor.

As long as you stay with a marine distributor!

 

[Rich Novak]

1972 OMC is an electric shift so need to worry about anything you do with a distributor.

What does the distributor do yo the electric shift.
Does my 72 have a electric shift module ??
Protronic has a conversion kit to do away with the points but they say you must make mods to avoid it affecting the electronic shift.
Thanks Rich

 

[bruceb58]

Your 1972 is an electric shift so there is no shift module like a dog clutch drive has. Dog clutch drives like the Cobra need to interrupt the spark while shifting out of gear. Since you shift is with magnets, no need to interrupt the spark therefore, you have no shift module.

 

[Rich Novak]

Your 1972 is an electric shift so there is no shift module like a dog clutch drive has. Dog clutch drives like the Cobra need to interrupt the spark while shifting out of gear. Since you shift is with magnets, no need to interrupt the spark therefore, you have no shift module.

Thanks,
So if I covert the points to a pertonics electronic system( no points) it won't interfere with shifting.
I just want to eliminate the points.

Thanks, Rich

 

[bruceb58]

It won't interfere.

 

[Rich Novak]

Thanks,
I appreciate your fast response.
Rich

 

[bruceb58]

Personally, i would stick with points unless I was upgrading the entire distributor to a Delco Voyager

 

[Rich Novak]

Personally, i would stick with points unless I was upgrading the entire distributor to a Delco Voyager

Why ? I converted a car dist years ago had no problems and increased performance.
What would be diff. With a marine app.

 

[bruceb58]

You won't get increased performance. You are replacing something that is reliable with something that is less reliable.

So how is your current distributor working? Is the advance curve working to spec? Changing to a Pertronix does NOTHING for the advance curve. The Pertronix is just an electronic switch that replaces the points it does nothing else including increasing performance.

 

[Rich Novak]

You won't get increased performance. You are replacing something that is reliable with something that is less reliable.

So how is your current distributor working? Is the advance curve working to spec? Changing to a Pertronix does NOTHING for the advance curve. The Pertronix is just an electronic switch that replaces the points it does nothing else including increasing performance.

I think the advance is set wrong I will check it in a couple of days.
I think the pertronx works very well , change it
once and forget it.

 

[bruceb58]

I think the advance is set wrong I will check it in a couple of days..

Check it before you buy the pertronix. If your distributor is worn and/or the weights and advance mechanism need repair, way cheaper in the long run to buy a Delco Voyager distributor.

You should get around 20 degrees advance in addition to what it is set at idle. It should start ramping up at 1000 RPM and be done at 3000.

http://www.michiganmotorz.com/igniti...32_41_193.html
Considering it comes with a new coil, spark plug wires, cap and rotor, it's a pretty good deal. Way more reliable than a Pertronix too.

 

[kevincave]

i know a lot of parts are marine specific, just wondering the difference in the hei distributors. thanks kc

 

[Bondo]

i know a lot of parts are marine specific, just wondering the difference in the hei distributors. thanks kc

Ayuh,.... The GM Hei distributors are vented, but not spark protected,....

Boats, also don't use vacuum advance, as vacuum is very low in boat motors,....
So, the advance will be wrong, pretty much all the time,...

 

[Rich Novak]

It is somehow protected so sparks can't enter the engine compartment.
Mine is a 1972 it has a small mesh screen keeping the spark isolated.
Rich.