Well I am not sure if this thread should be in a different year category of models but here goes! My 1968 Grande Parisienne 396 ignition system has been upgraded along the line somewhere from the regular distributor cap with points / ignition wires to a HEI system.
So, firstly, I want to confirm that the 1968 did indeed come from the factory with the old points style system (no HEI system), with the old distributor cap, rotor and ignition wires.
Secondly, my 396 has the HEI distributor style cap, rotor with the correct ignition wires that are capped on it etc, etc and I want to put on a new distributor cap, rotor and plug wires, but, I have no idea from what year vehicle this HEI system came from. Is there a way or marking on the HEI distributor to tell what a replacement part will be or should be or do I just pick an early model mid 70's HEI system and order a AC Delco cap, rotor and wires?? So essentially, will any early HEI replacement parts work on this system or do I need to be more specific??
Thirdly, just wondering if anyone would like to offer a little blurp of info on the HEI system when it came out, etc as I know the members will most likely be very knowledgeable about the HEI system.
If you order everything for a 1976 Caprice 454 you should be bang on.
1974 was the first HEI, and interestingly, it was an option that year.
There was an earlier unit that was kind of the prototype called Unitized Ignition that had cap and wires together as a unit. They were not real reliable, and pretty much flopped. It was also optional and came on some US model Pontiacs.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars (now converted to a "factory" 4 speed)
Carl Stevenson wrote: If you order everything for a 1976 Caprice 454 you should be bang on.
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Thanks Carl for the info, another order for Rock Auto coming up!!
