Re-educate me on SBC ignition upgrades

My FIL acquired a '71 Chevy C10 that I'm going to help him fix up. It's a bone stock 350 with a puny 2 barrel and a 4 speed manual. 

My intent is to replace carb with 600 - 650 cfm carb and matched intake. It will need a new exhaust, but likely leave the ram horn manifolds on it. 

It's been 15 years since I've been in a SBC, and I'm sure things have changed. What's the current go to for ignition upgrades? 

Looking to spend under $500. 

Should I just grab a Pertronix kit and be done with it? I see a ton of brands that I don't recognize. 

Goal for truck is a cruiser / joy ride machine

There are complete drop-in HEI distributors for you engine from Summit for under $200. That was the single best part I ever bought for my '72 El Camino with a 350.

Also, I went with a 550 cfm Edelbrock carb and manifold, with a phenolic plastic carb spacer to help with heat soak. Headers and duals like you're planning. It's been a great cruiser for the past 17 years with this setup.

One word of caution is don't buy the Chinesium MSD knockoffs - get at least a name brand ignition.  They are all pretty chinesey but the name brands are better.  

In reply to 93gsxturbo :

They are all made in china now in that range. Even the MSDs. Only thing you can do on the cheap side is to get a better module or at least carry one with you as a spare. 

I'd stay with Pertronix or points personally.

Before you stick a Pertronix in the distributor , make sure the stock distributor isn't worn out.  

Why would anyone put a Pertronix in a Chevy engine?  HEI distributors are, like, right there.

93gsxturbo said:

One word of caution is don't buy the Chinesium MSD knockoffs - get at least a name brand ignition.  They are all pretty chinesey but the name brands are better.  

 

I like the MSD because it makes for a clean install with the coil in the cap and all the wiring in one spot. Sadly, the one I bought had a two flaws. The vacuum canister leaked and the tone ring was touching the pickup when I accelerated. Felt like a carb bog because it only happened when I hit the gas pedal and then it would clear up. 

Ideal would be an oem HEI, with original Delco components, but the newest one of those in a junkyard is pushing 40 years old.

Why put an aftermarket junk carb on when you have the most reliable Rochester carb ever built already sutting on top? That 4 speed removes the possibility of performance driving anyway.

I know they're more money; has anyone used a Davis Unified Ignition aka DUI HEI-style distributor here that can comment on the quality?  I believe they're still made in the USA.

It's been proven, over and over that ignition upgrades are the least bang for your buck.

It's hard to beat the HEI system, it's simple, reliable,  tunable and packs a punch. 

Chances are the carb just needs a good cleaning and service. Spend a little time to put it right and it will be reliable. 

It's almost like the manufacturer spent millions of dollars developing this stuff, wanting it to be reliable.

Pete. (l33t FS) said:

Why would anyone put a Pertronix in a Chevy engine?  HEI distributors are, like, right there.

Stock HEI provides about 55kV, but starts dropping voltage around 4000-4500 RPMs.  Upgrading an HEI with a good module and coil fixes that, but some of the stock HEIs have somewhat weak shafts that like to twist a degree or so at higher RPMs meaning that some aftermarket complete units have addressed that.  Bulletproof for stock cruise, but aftermarket can be better.

Last time I used a Mallory HEI, I was supremely disappointed.  Shaft was so weak that it dropped 3-4 degrees on the test bench at 5000 RPM.  Accel is usually considered the HF version of an HEI.  MSD makes a pretty good one.  Pertronix aint what it used to was.  Do some digging.  Last I checked, Summit used a re-badged MSD and Jegs used a re-badged ProForm.  Davis DUI were the bees knees, but it's been 10 years since I used one.

Also, he doesn't have an HEI right there, he has points.  I can understand not wanting to buy a JY HEI for $50 when you can get a brand new Summit HEI (likely made by MSD) for $99, complete with coil, module, rotor, cap, retainer, and pigtail.

My guess is that the "puny" 2bbl is likely a Rochester 2G flowing 435 cfm which is more than adequate for the wheezy cam in those trucks.  Upgrading to a 4bbl will be a lot of work and expense for 5 hp.

For a street truck, I would say stock type HEI with good quality components. Precise timing - including vacuum advance - will be more critical than spark energy.

MadScientistMatt said:

For a street truck, I would say stock type HEI with good quality components. Precise timing - including vacuum advance - will be more critical than spark energy.

I agree.  My point was that until you take a stock HEI and replace things with those quality components, you might be at more money than a Summit HEI which comes with (at least DID come with) good parts in it.  I think it also comes with recurve springs, different weights, and maybe an adjustable vac can.

Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) said:

My guess is that the "puny" 2bbl is likely a Rochester 2G flowing 435 cfm which is more than adequate for the wheezy cam in those trucks.  Upgrading to a 4bbl will be a lot of work and expense for 5 hp.

I had the big bore 2GC on the Buick 350 in my old Gladiator. 

I can't see how a 4 barrel would have been worth the trouble. 

That 2gc made plenty of power and had great throttle response.

Those 2G carbs are great. If I recall there are 3 sizes. The small flange, the standard large flange, and the large flange, large venturi. The middle one is what you probably have. The latter was found on 2 barrel 396's (rare), large trucks, and busses, and often had a governor on the side. . In my street stock days I used to scour the heavy truck yards for those. Most people didn't know they existed and they made a difference. HEI all the way.