1965 Rambler American HEI conversion

Hello all from sunny Sooke, BC

I had a 196 in a Canadian built car that had a Prestolite distributor. It still worked good after 145K miles and aside from routine tune up parts the only failure was from a condenser that needed replacing after sitting for a number of years. BTW, every time I replaced points I would also give it a squirt of oil down the shaft to keep the bushings lubricated.

"The only real benefit a pertronix conversion supplies, if any, is the lack of a need to adjust anything once you have it in and working."

That's the primary benefit, but it also provides a more precise and stable spark, due to no wear (which is what you're saying). It's getting harder to find good points and condensor sets now too. With a hotter coil you usually have quicker, easier starting as well. Not having to adjust things is definitely a good thing though! John, you're just so old that you get nervous when you don't have to fiddle with the motor every four to six months!!

I'd order a Pertronix Ignitor and coil for the car. The coil isn't necessary, but it won't hurt to replace the aging original coil, and a slightly hotter one won't hurt. Doesn't necessarily help much, but won't hurt.

If you want to use the GM HEI system you can. Order a distributor for a 232 or get a 1980s GM 4.1L (250) six cylinder HEI distributor, cap, coil, rotor, and plug wires. Or try to score one in a salvage yard -- that motor was used in pickups and vans until 1984, cars through 1979, so look in C-10 trucks and vans for one. You will need a gear from an AMC six cylinder Delco distributor. Others fit, can't recall which now, but you should have a Delco distributor in your car now, so just swap that gear on the GM HEI dizzy. The only thing to watch out for is the dizzy body to block junction. If the body doesn't drop all the way to the block with just a good push DO NOT use the clamp to force it tight. That will bind the oil pump. Instead, get a large washer that will fit over the lower end of the dizzy body between it and the block. The thickness of that large washer should be enough to fill the gap (if it's a bit thicker that's fine). THEN you can clamp it down.