> What later HEI distributorwill fit in a 1969 Catalina 400 cid 2bbl?
As far as I know, any Pontiac HEI distributor will drop right in, even
one out of the short-deck 265/301. I picked up a random Pontiac HEI
distributor and dropped it into a '69 Pontiac 350 no problem (I seem
to recall a tech question a while back in one of the Pontiac mags
where someone had dropped a 301 distributor into an earlier engine).
Now, as I'm not *100% positive* that the 301 version will work, so
your safest bet is to find a 350/400/455 distributor. However, I
expect that it will be easier to find a 265/301 in the junkyard
because those motors hung on a little longer, and a considerably less
valuable to Pontiac engine collectors.
A Chevy, Olds, etc. distributor won't work; don't bother.
You probably won't have any problems with a Catalina, but eyeball the
firewall clearance first--the HEI is considerably bulkier and greater
in diameter. It fit in my '69 Firebird, but I had to clock it weird
to get just enough timing adjustment.
dye - 17 Dec 2007 15:48 GMT
>> What later HEI distributorwill fit in a 1969 Catalina 400 cid 2bbl?
>
>As far as I know, any Pontiac HEI distributor will drop right in, even
>one out of the short-deck 265/301. I picked up a random Pontiac HEI
>distributor and dropped it into a '69 Pontiac 350 no problem (I seem
>You probably won't have any problems with a Catalina, but eyeball the
>firewall clearance first--the HEI is considerably bulkier and greater
>in diameter. It fit in my '69 Firebird, but I had to clock it weird
>to get just enough timing adjustment.
Datapoint: swap with a late 70's Pontiac 400 wagon was a "drop in"
on my '68 Bonny...
Make sure to bypass the "ballast resistor" wire that will lower the
voltage to the HEI (lowered the voltage to prolong points life). I
just jumpered the beginning of the ballast resistor wire to the
ballast resistor bypass wire (used to get 12V to the ignition during
cranking); this might be more difficult on a "igniton switch in
the steering wheel" model.
--Ken

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Ken R. Dye an optimist is a guy |
Chicago, Illinois that has never had |
www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Track/8746 much experience |
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