Ford 170-250 L6 HEI Distributor

Upgrade your Ford 170, 200, or 250 inline-six ignition system with this HEI-style distributor, built around a magnetic trigger and a 65,000-volt coil housed directly in the unit — so there's no external coil or ignition box to wire in separately. The one-wire hookup simplifies installation on Falcon, Mustang, Fairlane, Maverick, Granada, and Mercury Comet applications running this engine family.

This distributor is designed for 1964-and-later engines in this family; it will not fit 1964-and-earlier engines that use a 1/4-inch hex distributor shaft, and does not cover the 144 CID variant, which wasn't offered in the U.S. after 1964. The housing is machined aluminum with a steel drive gear, and the mechanical/vacuum advance is tuned for carbureted street and performance driving. This distributor requires a 12-volt electrical system with an alternator; it is not compatible with generator-based charging systems or vehicles still running an active ballast resistor in the ignition circuit — the resistor should be removed or bypassed as part of installation.

What Is an HEI Distributor?
HEI (High Energy Ignition) replaces the external coil and breaker points used in factory Ford inline-six ignition systems with a magnetic trigger and a high-output coil built directly into the distributor housing. Without points to wear or require periodic gap adjustment, timing holds more consistently, and this single unit replaces both the original distributor and ignition coil.

Performance Benefits
The 65,000-volt internal coil produces stronger spark output than a factory points-style distributor, supporting more consistent spark delivery across the RPM range on the 170/200/250 inline-six. The magnetic trigger holds timing accurately without the point wear and drift common to older ignition systems. Mechanical and vacuum advance are both included, with a vacuum advance adjustment tool in the box so the timing curve can be tuned for the specific engine and driving conditions.

COMPATIBLE WITH
FORD SMALL BLOCK INLINE 6
• 2.8 L / 170 in³
• 3.3 L / 200 in³
• 4.1 L / 250 in³

NOTES
• Designed for carbureted Ford 170, 200, and 250 inline-six applications (1965 and later).
• Will not fit 1964 and earlier engines that require a ¼ in. hex distributor shaft.
• Not compatible with the Ford 240 or 300 inline-six — those are a separate engine family requiring a different distributor.
• The 170 was discontinued after 1972; the 250 was discontinued after 1982; the 200 was discontinued after 1984.
• This distributor is designed for a 12 volt electrical system with an alternator. 
• It is not compatible with a generator and cannot be used with a ballast resistor.
• Distributor gear is most compatible with cast iron hydraulic or solid flat tappet camshafts; consult camshaft manufacturer for recommended gear material before installation.

COMMON VEHICLE APPLICATIONS
Ford Falcon (170/200, 1961–1970)
Ford Mustang (170/200/250, 1964–1983)
Ford Fairlane (200/250, 1963–1970)
Ford Maverick (170/200/250, 1970–1977)
Ford Torino (250, 1968–1973)
Ford Granada (200/250, 1975–1982)
Ford Fairmont (200, 1978–1983)
Ford Ranchero (170/200, 1960–1970)
Mercury Comet (170/200/250, 1961–1977)
Mercury Monarch (200/250, 1975–1980)
Mercury Zephyr (200, 1978–1983)

SPECIFICATIONS
Distributor Type: HEI
Engine Platform: Ford Small Block Inline 6
Trigger Type: Magnetic
Rotation Direction: Clockwise
Advance Type: Mechanical and Vacuum
Color: Available in Black, Blue, Red, Clear
Terminal Gender: Male
Mechanical Tach Drive: No
Slip Collar: No
Coil Included: Yes
Coil Type: Internal
Coil Output: 65,000 V
Gear Material: Steel
Housing Material: Machined Aluminum
Ignition Box Required: No
Marine Use: No
Cylinders: 6
Voltage Requirement: 12 V electrical system with alternator
Vacuum Advance Adjustment Tool: Included
Installation Instructions: Included