I might change my '67 Ford Falcon's 200 I6 over to a pertonix ignitior to get better timing, and efficency but not shure yet, keeping an extra set of points in the glove box does not bother me, and as for my '51 Chevy, stock ign all the way, because there is no other option than a $400 aftermarket MSD dizzy and, it only works with 12 volt, which I will not be converting to.

I like the GM HEI distributors, because you can readily drop them into an older GM car with no mods, and parts are cheap, and available.

I recently switched out the original vac advance to an adjustable vac advance and dropped in a newcoil in the mid-70's HEI unit that a PO had already put in my '72 Pontiac. Was a pretty easy upgrade.

My '69 Merc has an MSD 6A (no L) box and billet distributor. It worked great until the magnetic pickup failed. This pickup is essentially the same as the off-the-shelf Ford duraspark pickup. Was a trickier job to install. Other than that failure, the MSD has been working A-OK. The one thing I dont like about the MSD stuff- its all red. Although maybe black and some other colors are available now?

I like to keep things simple. HEI doesn't get much simpler. My only problem with HEI is space constraints. They tend to be big.

I have always had great luck with an HEI distributer, gutted with MSD ignition. Just recently changed distributor to a MSD pro-billet, small diameter. Very pleased so far. Never had any problems with the MSD boxes themselves, Yet.

Jason

I prefer an ignition system that works! I also like a small-cap HEI, as they aren't as ugly. Although a dual-point Mallory is a joy to run when its set up properly (3 or 4 hours of swearing and tool hurling included for free!)

I ran HEI with no problems, but changed over to an MSD 6AL with a Pro-Billet distributor.....mainly for the rev limiter function. I have had no problems in 3 years...

i've been doin pretty good for 10 years till recently with my original unilite. now i'm beginning to wonder. last thing i bought was the Mallory HEI with coil in cap for $159 from summit. cant beat the price as i was given a stock HEI w/o a cap and the coil/cap/cap cover were like $90 so for a lousey $70 i can get another new one. bummer is, gotta getta off-set hole air cleaner base so i could put a 14" cleaner on my carb! that was like another $50! plus i would have to replace my wires. but, found out i've been losing miles per gallon cause my unilite doesnt have a vac advance!

I've been using a Mallory Unilite 501 and Accel adjustable vacuum advance in a stock Delco distributor. This hooks up to a Crane Fireball Hi-6 CD box ( multiple spark ) with internal rev limiter. This combo works pretty well on the street and track for me. I shift at 5800 so the Unilite is OK. Some guys have told me the Unilite starts dropping out above 6000 but I haven't noticed it when going that high on occasion. The car starts on the first turn and idles without missing even after setting for weeks.

Oljoedog

Live long race hard

The rev range is now inceased with the CDI wired in to the Unilite to about 8000rpm!
KiwiKarl

Good question lots of choices here, I have MSD on my hotrod , had a problem with the trigger, water caused it. The system preforms very well and that was the only glitch. However the truck I am building for the wife i have ordered the Crane Fireball system. Just to try something new. After getting the box and coil, the distributer is back ordered, I am jealous and am tempted to steal it for my ride , it is nicely built. The only thing I see that might not be liked by some is the wiring harness. It is large cause they use weather plugs (as factory) , one is advised not to shorten the wiring. So a little hide the wire game must be played, but well worth the effort

MSD 8360 with a Blaster 3 coil. That's it. Idles great, doesn't miss on the top end, timing stays put. Has vacuum advance and I can play with the timing curve if I want. I've used two different electric tachs and not a problem. Simple and reliable.

Naturally, as I am FOMOCO biased ( ), I prefer the DURASPARK II upgrade as it is (like my women) cheap and easy. Replacement parts are readily available and the distributor is easily adjustable on centrifugal and vacuum advance. A TFI coil transplant makes it as hot as you need it (stock or street/race) (not full competition).

As for an older restoration where you do not want to see the harness and module, PERTRONIX II.

i am all for billet distribtors. small reliable look good. get a magnetic pulse at the distribitor. you can adjust your ign curve with out opening your hood holley prostip annihilator ign sye, has 4 stages of retard ing. trans brake , line lock, almost every hting to control your whole car.

I've been running a cheapy Accel HEI and coil with a Blue Streak cap and rotor for the last four years and I'm happy with it. They do tend to be big and can get real close to the fire wall. The way the wires come out of the stock cap looks a little funky but a crossfire cap can clean up that problem. Someday when I'm rich and good looking, I'll probably go MSD - for now, stock HEI works.

If I had a Ford I'd go with Duraspark. It's cheap and about as bullet proof as you can get.

Let me throw in a more soecific questuin. There are expensive, cheap, cheaper and cheapest distributors out there and they are name brands. In the middle of the road: Accel has the 59107, Mallory has one or two and MSD has the Street Fire. If you're on a budget and had $150 to buy one of these, witch one? And why? Are there better choices?