Inliners International Forums General Discussion Electrical 153 Cu In Chevy Distrib

OK gang it's payback time It's my turn to ask a question. I'm going to be picking up a Chevy II 4 banger 153 inch job. It is complete and of course has a normal points distributer.
Does anyone know for sure if they every made an HEI coil in cap unit for the later versions that Mercruiser Marine offered or the ones in the USPS mail route jeeps? I know about Pertronix and all the refit kits so just curious on a coil in cap unit.

Thanks

the pontiac iron duke will fit and work.

Late model four cylinder marine engines made by GM use a solid state distributor that does not use points.

The GM Pontiac inline four distributor will not work as it is too short. It drives off the cam in a different location...in the back and down low whereas the distributor in 153-181-3.0 liter engines are mounted high and upfront in the block.

mike, i have a 181ci mercruiser four-banger in my Model A. i also had a '66 153 chevy 4-banger in a chevette. i bought rebuilt coil-in-cap hei distributors for each from tom langdon at stovebolt engine works. i think they were only $60!

fair warning! a shock from one of these suckers will knock you off your feet! i found out while trying to connect a timing light with the engine running! duh!

Thanks Dennis. A couple of years ago I was visiting with Tom and we had a fairly lengthy discussion about the 153 and 181 bangers. I'm sure he must have mentioned the ignition but when you talk with Tom there is so much good info to absorb it's hard to remember it all. When I get ready for it I will give him a call.

Thanks to bob308 and Gerry also. All hints and info helps.

mike, i've built 4 153/181 chevy 4-bangers, using tom's advice on the last 3. each one has been better than the last. the 181 now in my model a is the cream of the crop! with 2 carter/webber 2-barrel carbs, headers, computer-ground cam and 4-speed, that sucker is a blast to drive! i get a lot of flack from my V8 powered street rod buddies, but i like to irritate them, anyway!

on a 120 mile cruise, i got over 20 mpg, while a couple of the big V8 boys were around the 9-10 mpg range! they'd stop and gas up......i'd get a cold drink! i've never had the car over 90 mph, as it's a little light and not the least bit aerodynamic, but it'll run 70-75 miles an hour all day long. if you'd like a photo, e-mail me at drh@digital-link.net