C3: HEI or Breakerless SE

[Dan Pepper]

I purchased my 98% original '69 L46 coupe with an HEI tach-drive distributor already installed. I'd like to get back to factory appearance, but the HEI unit is too fat to install the ignition shielding. To fix this, I recently purchased a rebuilt conventional tach-drive distributor and a Breakerless SE conversion to put the car back to factory appearance.

Questions:
Will I notice any difference between the HEI set-up and a breakerless SE unit? Also, will this require a hotter than factory spec coil to measure up to the HEI system?

[William C.]

Re: C3: HEI or Breakerless SE

HEI was a complete ignition system upgrade that included Significantly higher system voltage and current, along with upgraded secondary wiring to the plugs and other improvements. Some of the hei systems included remote mounted coils which may be useful if you want to go that way, but you will still be underrated in the areas such as distributor caps and rotors which if using a conventional distributor are not up to snuff for a true HEI system. I believe you should consider an integrated system that would include all parts and pieces from a single source, preferrebly one that has actually put some engineering into designing a system, rather than just individual parts.

[Duke W.]

Re: C3: HEI or Breakerless SE

A properly functioning breaker point system or breakerless conversion should make the same power as HEI. HEI has double the per spark igntion energy as the single point to it will fire through bad wires and fouled plugs when the single point will misfire.

Assuming the spark advance map is the same for both systems and they are in good working order, the engine should perform the same.

Use the coil recommended by the system manufacturer.

Duke

[Jeff Broughton]

Re: C3: HEI or Breakerless SE

I use the Breakerless SE on my '69, and have no complaints at all. Starts and performs well, looks factory stock unless you pull the distributor cap. The HEI distributor cap uses a different fitting on the end of the plug wire, so you'll probably have to change out your plug wires. I believe their only recommendation as far as coils is to NOT use the MSD Blaster type coil. Check their web site, it's on there somewhere - http://www.lectriclimited.com/breakerless_se.htm

Jeff

[lyndon sharpton]

Re: C3: HEI or Breakerless SE

question, do the judges want to pull the cap an look for the breakerless se? they make you pull your cover to check the cap. why not check an see if all is OK under?

[Terry M.]

Re: C3: HEI or Breakerless SE

Judges will open the door in the cap (or ask the owner to open the door), and look inside. I have never seen a distributor cap removed on the judging field, but then I haven't been on every field all of the time.

[lyndon sharpton]

Re: C3: HEI or Breakerless SE

well thats what I was talking about looking for stuff like that.