[fleetimus]

I just put a 350 in my 64 Nova. I had to "alter" the firewall to get clearance for the HEI. Is this normal???

 

[Shawn F.]

What did you do to the firewall to make it fit? I am about to buy an HEI dissy (the 90 dollar one from Summit) to put into my 327 that's in my 63 wagon. I looked at it and it looks like it wont fit but thinking about what to do to the firewall. I was guessing to heat it up and hit it with a small mallet and nicely smooth it in without making it look like crap. Any pics of yours?

 

[fleetimus]

I used a BFH to make room. Figured I would clean it up later

 

[bigdaddykane]

no, this is not normal. you shouldn't have to smash in the firewal to put in a distributor. your trying to put the wrong distributor in there. HEI's dont belong there. get a Mallory Unlite or a MSD for your aplication and put away the sledge hammer back into the shed.....

 

[64box]

Its funny that you just posted this cuz I just got home from altering my fire wall for my hei. I will post some pics tomorrow night for you guys. And yes it would be easier to buy a Msd unit if you wanted to spend the money! My buddy gave me a HEI unit complete with plug wires and all so thats $0.00. I had some sheet metal laying around and my room mate happens to be a professional fabricator. So with those ingredients we went for it. Basically you have to move back the firewall back a good 1 1/2". We went 2" so I still have room to get my hand back there to adjust timing. Its a good 3 hours of work with the right tools and lots of skill... But It was free.

 

[bigdaddykane]

Its funny that you just posted this cuz I just got home from altering my fire wall for my hei. I will post some pics tomorrow night for you guys. And yes it would be easier to buy a Msd unit if you wanted to spend the money! My buddy gave me a HEI unit complete with plug wires and all so thats $0.00. I had some sheet metal laying around and my room mate happens to be a professional fabricator. So with those ingredients we went for it. Basically you have to move back the firewall back a good 1 1/2". We went 2" so I still have room to get my hand back there to adjust timing. Its a good 3 hours of work with the right tools and lots of skill... But It was free.

or you could have gotten a stock old points type distributor for next to nothing and put an electronic conversion kit in it for $35- $60 bucks depending on where you bought it from and dropped that in it with out any modifications....

 

[laser-red-nova]

HEI's fit in some early novas without mods. Like mine. 64 with stock HEI no firewall mods. It's close but doesn't hit.

 

[6NOVA4]

You don't have to kill it but just maybe massage it a little. Give me an HEI over mallory any day of the week. HEI's fit fine. If you can drop it in where the two back wires fit flush to the firewall and you got timing where you want it your good.

 

[jbon64]

HEI's fit in some early novas without mods. Like mine. 64 with stock HEI no firewall mods. It's close but doesn't hit.

weird....my 63 , HEI fit like a glove . my 64 wagon i needed to persuade the firewall.

 

[Shawn F.]

My plan is to run this points type for a little bit but I am going to be ordering an HEI in a few days to a week from Summit for $100. I think their black cap blueprinted HEI will work fine. Anyone have any experience with these and put lots of miles on it? I have installed them in customers vehicles and from the little time I have seen and driven the vehicle they did perfect. They never came back with problems so that's why I am guessing they are good enough.