Delco Remy HEI Distributor in a Mercruiser MCM260

San_Diego_SeaRay

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Nov 9, 2014
Messages
337
Purchased a used MCM 260 on Craiglsist. It was originally built in 1983 and purchased by the Craigslist third party as a remanufactured engine from Michigan Motorz about 5 years ago. I am going thru it, repainting it, checking out the electrical, etc. I now need to buy spark plug wires for the ignition. It has a Delco Remy HEI distributor (I've repainted the cap). Upon researching what wires are required, I realized that I'm assuming this is a marine distributor, installed by Michigan Motorz (or Mercruiser if they supplied Michigan Motorz the remanned motor). But maybe it isn't marine approved? It doesn't have the sticker. So a few questions:
  • Have HEI distributors ever been part of Mercruiser's ignition format?
  • Is there a way to determine marine vs standard distributors?
  • If it turns out that I can use this distributor, should I be using carbon or copper core wires?
Thanks in advance!

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Silvertip

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 22, 2003
Messages
28,771
That is NOT a marine distributor as evidenced by the vacuum advance unit. Marine units do not have them and in fact may be detrimental.
 

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
70,970
  • Have HEI distributors ever been part of Mercruiser's ignition format?
  • Is there a way to determine marine vs standard distributors?
  • If it turns out that I can use this distributor, should I be using carbon or copper core wires?

Nope,.....

Ayuh,... That one Ain't,... shouldn't be a vacuum advance on it,.....

Go for a Delco Voyager system, the complete "Kit" is a decent steal of a deal,....
 

San_Diego_SeaRay

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Nov 9, 2014
Messages
337
OK great thanks for the replies guys. I just happen to have a "backup" Mallory distributor that has been converted to electronic that I can use. It definitely is a marine distributor.
 
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