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Distributor Cap Help
Does anyone know if any company makes a distributor cap for the 289/302/351W stock points style distributor with HEI posts rather than socket style terminals? I need to run a standard sized cap to clear my turkey pan but would prefer to use HEI terminals rather than socket. I cannot run the HEI cap conversion kit because the larger cap interferes with the turkey pan. I know Holley makes a distributor for the 351 with this exact setup but I don't want to swap out my distributor. Any help, part numbers, etc. would be appreciated.
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Another possibility is to get the HEI to regular conversion nipples. They plug right in to your cap and will take the HEI wires.
I would have to ask though, why would you not want to use the regular ends? If you have good wires with brass terminals, they will work perfectly well on a standard distributor. You can get the larger 8mm or 9mm wires and have all the juice your system makes, flowing efficiently enough to make good hp. Your biggest issue is going to be points, not wires. Even ACCEL doesn't really make a good set anymore. They also have to be set regularly so your dwell doesn't get too far off. You'll also get "spark scatter" out of breaker points at high rpm. You'd be way ahead to get a Mallory Unilite conversion for the inside of your distriutor and add a hotter coil. Al |
Right now I am using a Ford Duraspark distributor with a standard points style cap and rotor with no problems. I just bought a cap from Carquest #AL-482 . It is from an International Prestolite of some sort. It is a small cap with HEI style terminals. Looks like everything will work fine and will use a Ford points style rotor. I just haven't bought a set of wires yet to use.
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As an explanation, I am using the stock 1969 351W distributor which has been converted to pointless with a Pertronix conversion kit. I was using a HEI conversion cap kit on the distributor with matching wires. Since buying a turkey pan to surround the carb, the pan interferes with the distributor cap so I need to go back to the standard sized cap. I was hoping that if any company made a cap with HEI nipples for the points type distributor I wouldn't have to swap in a new set of wires, just swap the rotor and cap. I am also planning to swap to a dual quad Holley setup sometime over the winter which would also probably benefit from increased distributor clearance.
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Have you thought about modifing the pan ?? Alumium is very easy to work with as an option.
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MSD caps have the sparkplug style lugs on the cap. Shame on you for referring to them as HEI style, this is a non-GM forum. You could also just put new ends on your current plug wires, when you buy Taylor brand plug wires, they give you a baggie of both types, plug in and plun on.
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Well, I THOUGHT about modifying the turkey pan but that's about as far as it got. I mean, I could have used my universal Ford tool (hammer) to create the required clearance but I really didn't want to go that route. By the way, Mr. Fixit, I accept my thousand lashes for using the abbreviation HEI. Lord knows I don't want to create the impression that there is any connection whatsoever between Ford and GM. Pray tell, if I am not to refer to these terminals as HEI how should I address them, merely as "post style?"%/ %/ %/ %/ %/
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Sparkplug style distributor lugs.
Is it merely the ford "big cap" ? If the ignition coil is in the cap itself, it is HEI type, if it is merely a big honkin cap with sparkplug type terminals, you will have no problems. What kind of adapter is on the distributor housing that allows the HEI type cap to fit? I hope that can be changed otherwise you will have a hard time getting a small cap to fit correctly on your housing. |
Ford distributors have the same retaining clips on point type and electronic models. Also same diameter. Only difference is the rotor and cap.
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MSD & Accel have the caps you're looking for.
MSD distributor is Delco type distributor on a Ford stalk. Best of both worlds. It's called "Cross fertilization". GM technology on aftermarket Ford parts. Hey, if it works,...use it. |
To Mr. Fixit, it is just a "big honkin cap with sparkplug type terminals". No coil in the cap. Ford Motorsports has a conversion kit that adapts the larger diameter HE...... errrrr I mean sparkplug terminal cap (my bad?) to the early ponts style distributor. I plan to look into Kountzecobra's suggestion for a CarQuest cap. All I want to do is remove the "honkin" cap and adapterin order to clear the turkey pan without having to either swap out the Ford Motorsport ignition wires or use terminal adapters. I know, PICKY PICKY.
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