Hello forum members!
Apologies if I missed a thread on point. I tried a search, but I’m no techno-expert (as might be evident by the way I avoid computers through a ’72 Dart).

So, I daily drive a Mexican-built ’72 Dart and have been slowly working to make it more reliable and with a bit more pep. My current project involved working on its timing and I’ve run into a problem. I am fairly certain that the distributor’s vacuum advance has bit the dust, but there are no ready replacements. All the vacuum advances I’ve found have a different bend and connection (mine terminates in a hole to insert a rod inside the distributor). I also like the idea of switching over to an HEI ignition, and was wondering if anyone has had luck with the integrated distributor systems, or can suggest a good HEI distributor combo that will also come with a new vacuum advance.

If that isn’t the best idea, are there any standard distributors that are better than others for converting to an HEI? I’ll likely follow SlantSixDan’s guide to an HEI conversion if I only switch to a comparable distributor now.
Thanks all for any insight you all can give!

Oh, and if it matters, I recently upgraded the original Holley single BBL to a Weber 32/26 prepped by Langdon Stovebolt (without mentioning that I’m driving only above 5,000 feet, so now I’m experimenting with smaller jets…)

If it's a points distributor, then you can also use the vacuum pod from a Big block mopar if necessary... but you will have to use a hand vacuum pump and feeler gauge to make sure the rubbing block on the points still has contact with the governor cam through out the long sweep of the 9.5x arm, especially at maximum advance, the geometry gets interesting.

Standard slant six pods would be similar to Standard Motor Products VC-173, or Airtex/Wells 4V1083... these have a 13 crank degree advance.

The last couple I made with vacuum advances from Big Blocks used Standard VC-168... these will have 17 degrees of advance.

I suspect the others you have gotten were for the later EI distributors or were for small block distributors...

For the HEI conversion you will need a 1973+ slant six EI distributor, the better curves for the 225 in the USA were 1977-1980, export cars may have different curves... after that you will need a chevy HEI module, a heat sink to attach it to, proper coil, and the wiring to get it all done.

I'll look around for a 77-80 EI distributor to replace the original on the car now. Not sure that I'm up to working out the geometry on a replacement vacuum advance as I only get to work on the car a couple days at a time on the weekends. It has to be ready to go every workday!

If I can find that, I'll get the other parts ordered and hope for the best!
Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

One follow-up: any tips on sellers for such a set-up? Although I'm in Mexico, I use a Texas PO and source most parts from the United States.

I tried Old Car Parts Northwest, but no response...
Thanks!

Old Car Parts Northwest is alive and in business, but they're better at taking phone calls than answering emails. Or you could just buy it (or contact them) off their ebay listing for that distributor.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Thank you - they have one fewer distributor for sale there now!

DANG! OCPNW Has NOS alternators for $50! That's a deal!

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Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

Is it just me, or does the alternator and the distrubutor both look used/grimy?

I know NOS might be a little dusty or even rusty....but they almost look used???

I have been to the OCPNW warhouse and most of the stuff is still in original packaging, but some of it is out of the box. What looks like grease might be the cosmolene anti-rust coating Chrysler put on their replacement parts to prevent rust while the parts sat on the shelf. The alternator does look like it has a smidge of rust on the pulley, but that wouldn't stop me from buying it.

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Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

My son & I just acquired a '66 Dart with the slant 6. The previous owner tried the HEI conversion but it didn't fix ALL the problems with the engine. We took it all out and went back to a stock distributor. We still have the conversion parts and, I think, the directions for hooking it up. We can let it go for a song if you're interested.

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225 slant six with automatic transmission.

I completed the conversion to HEI last weekend, and the car's performance is night and day from before the switch. Previous misses, pings, and lunging have been replaced by smooth power throughout the power band. Now that this has been resolved, I'm going back to playing with carb jet sizes to see if I can have this '72 225 running even better.
Thank you again for the advice and direction!
-Drew