Langdon HEI and Mechanical Advance

[bts_dodge49]

Hello all, hope the holidays seasaon finds everyone well!! Quick question regarding Langdon's HEI... I know there has been a number of discussions on this already. The question, do I need the mechanical advance on this distributor. I read a thread where Marty didn't use mechanical, just vacuum. What is your experience. The reason I'm asking is the HEI I got from Langdon did not have springs on the weights. If I don't need the mechanical I will just tie wrap them...if I do, then what do you recommend as far as spring sets go?

Thanks

Todd

[martybose]

Your HEI should have had springs installed. As for alternate springs, every spring kit I found had lighter springs in them for a faster advance, which you don't need. I will eventually go back to fiddling with my HEI, as I would like to figure out how to get a few degrees of mechanical advance at higher engine speeds, but for now the tiewrap stays on.

Marty

[Plymouthy Adams]

during hard acceleration in the absence of vacuum...what is going to maintain your advance?...springs are needed..the springs control the "curve" of advance..this can be set per spring rate selection as mentioned above.

[bts_dodge49]

Thanks guys.... any idea where I could get a proper set of springs? Should I get them from Tom Langdon or source myself?

[Don Coatney]

Thanks guys.... any idea where I could get a proper set of springs? Should I get them from Tom Langdon or source myself?

Were it me I would give the engineer Tom Langdon a call. When I met him in Detroit last summer he told me that nobody on the internet knows anything about anything.

Guess what I have learned so far is his distributors do not work and are not complete when he sends them out. But hey I am only one of the guys on the internet that does not know anything.

[bts_dodge49]

Thanks, emailed Tom and he is asking for "cam (chrome plated) stamp number do you have & weight stamp number". Where is the "cam stamp number"? Does anybody have one of Langdon's HEI's handy to post both numbers or are they unique to each distributor he sells?

[martybose]

Thanks, emailed Tom and he is asking for "cam (chrome plated) stamp number do you have & weight stamp number". Where is the "cam stamp number"? Does anybody have one of Langdon's HEI's handy to post both numbers or are they unique to each distributor he sells?

I'm guessing, but I think he is referring to the center piece at the top after you take the cap and the rotor off, which is what the springs connect to for the advance weights. I'm at work, so can't check to see if there are numbers on the parts in my distributor.

Marty

[Andydodge]

In defence of Tom Langdon, I have had my HEI for nearly 12 mths before biting the bullet and installing it.........the BEST thing I could have done for the car, I now get instant starting with no winding over hoping that it may kick, it seems to run smoother, tho' that could be my imagination, but its working fine, so in Tom Langdons defence, YES, at least mine works fine........this is on a stock 1941 Plymouth 201, converted to 12 volts.......maybe because I'm in Australia and its running upside down..........lol......andyd

[hkestes41]

Were it me I would give the engineer Tom Langdon a call. When I met him in Detroit last summer he told me that nobody on the internet knows anything about anything.

Guess what I have learned so far is his distributors do not work and are not complete when he sends them out. But hey I am only one of the guys on the internet that does not know anything.

His distributor is working great in my car. Right out of the package and into/out of/into the engine, had it 180 out the first time. Been running great since.

[Don Coatney]

Thanks, emailed Tom and he is asking for "cam (chrome plated) stamp number do you have & weight stamp number". Where is the "cam stamp number"? Does anybody have one of Langdon's HEI's handy to post both numbers or are they unique to each distributor he sells?

I would think that sence he sold and shipped the distributor that he would already have this information?

His distributor is working great in my car. Right out of the package and into/out of/into the engine, had it 180 out the first time. Been running great since.

Glad to hear it is working for you.

[BeBop138]

I have posted before that Tom`s Hei does not work as well as it could. To much slop on the shaft, the mechanical advance shifts 10 degrees. It could work better. A buddy of mine has made one from a inline Chev six and I feel it out performs Tom`s unit. Not saying his won`t work, I feel it should do better. Check out my previous post on this for more info..........Good Luck

[james curl]

I have an S 10 distributor that was converted for the chevy 235 in my pick up and at a inliners meeting Tom thought it was one of his and I didnot tell him any different.