Author Topic: which distributor for 440-6 with MSD 6AL  (Read 4023 times)

Offline 351c4v71

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which distributor for 440-6 with MSD 6AL
« on: April 14, 2017 - 07:10:30 PM »
Hi guys,
I just bought an MSD 6AL wanting to upgrade from my orange box and old distributor (#3690432).
I have a 71 cuda clone with 440-6 mild cam stock heads and headers. This is for street use.
Which distributor would be an upgrade from the old one and fit easily with MSD 6AL?
Should I get with the vaccuum advance? I read about the MSD #8546 but it doesn't have vacuum adv and I think it needs an additional connection for the tach...
I don't want to spend more than the #8546 (320$).
Your recommandations are welcome, thanks!
JS
Montreal




Offline angelo78

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Re: which distributor for 440-6 with MSD 6AL
« Reply #1 on: April 14, 2017 - 08:10:07 PM »
I run the msd pro billit with no issues but i did require the tach adapt box.  There is a electronic conversion that you can do to the tach which i wish i did.  Then youre tach will be accurate as well.

Offline 734406pk

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Re: which distributor for 440-6 with MSD 6AL
« Reply #2 on: April 14, 2017 - 09:52:46 PM »
I am running the MSD Pro Billet distributor, no issues at all!
1973 Challenger 440 6 pack auto 3.91 rear
2012 Dodge Ram 3500 dually 6.7 Cummins Fleece EFI Live
1973 Challenger 318 2bbl auto 2.73 rear 22.5 mpg RIP
1970 Challenger TA 340 4bbl auto-Sold and sad
1999 Dodge Ram 3500 dually 5.9 Cummins Fleece tuned VGT-sold
1995 Kawasaki ZX1100E & still alive

Offline xtopfuel

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Re: which distributor for 440-6 with MSD 6AL
« Reply #3 on: April 15, 2017 - 09:35:07 AM »
 :iagree:

Offline Beekeeper

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Re: which distributor for 440-6 with MSD 6AL
« Reply #4 on: April 15, 2017 - 11:00:35 AM »
Hi guys,
I just bought an MSD 6AL wanting to upgrade from my orange box and old distributor (#3690432).
I have a 71 cuda clone with 440-6 mild cam stock heads and headers. This is for street use.
Which distributor would be an upgrade from the old one and fit easily with MSD 6AL?
Should I get with the vaccuum advance? I read about the MSD #8546 but it doesn't have vacuum adv and I think it needs an additional connection for the tach...
I don't want to spend more than the #8546 (320$).
Your recommandations are welcome, thanks!
JS
Montreal


JS, I ran the same box and one of these distributors in my 64 Vette. It was an amazing change. I cringed at the price initially but now I see it as money well spent. I am definitely doing this in my 70 Challenger when the engine goes back in. The engine fires up hot or cold in a fraction of a second and idles beautifully without ever loading up at idle.

By the way, for some reason on the Vette, it always tried draining the battery with key off and I hooked it up precisely as the instructions advised. In the end, I put a battery disconnect on it and life is good. I can go over a month with zero drop in voltage.

Offline 351c4v71

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Re: which distributor for 440-6 with MSD 6AL
« Reply #5 on: April 15, 2017 - 07:39:13 PM »
Looks like most guys use an MSD pro billet when they have an MSD 6AL. But i think there are two, one with the vacuum advance and the other wihout. Which one is best suited for street use?

Offline 734406pk

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Re: which distributor for 440-6 with MSD 6AL
« Reply #6 on: April 15, 2017 - 08:54:13 PM »
Looks like most guys use an MSD pro billet when they have an MSD 6AL. But i think there are two, one with the vacuum advance and the other wihout. Which one is best suited for street use?

The MSD distributors with the vacuum advance are "Ready to Run" type and don't need a 6AL. The amplifier is inside the distributor with these RTR units. The Pro-Billet distributor is mechanical advance only as far as I know. This type needs a 6AL since it's a trigger only distributor.
1973 Challenger 440 6 pack auto 3.91 rear
2012 Dodge Ram 3500 dually 6.7 Cummins Fleece EFI Live
1973 Challenger 318 2bbl auto 2.73 rear 22.5 mpg RIP
1970 Challenger TA 340 4bbl auto-Sold and sad
1999 Dodge Ram 3500 dually 5.9 Cummins Fleece tuned VGT-sold
1995 Kawasaki ZX1100E & still alive

Offline Beekeeper

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Re: which distributor for 440-6 with MSD 6AL
« Reply #7 on: April 15, 2017 - 09:12:05 PM »
Looks like most guys use an MSD pro billet when they have an MSD 6AL. But i think there are two, one with the vacuum advance and the other wihout. Which one is best suited for street use?

Mine has a vacuum advance but still needs the box. I never run vacuum advance and I love it. Other guys will probably disagree but I tend to think of them as smog equipment. I set my engines up to have no more than 36-38 degrees of total advance. This distributor is very adjustable (and super easy) on how much mechanical advance you can run. Factory setting is 20 degrees (I think) and I dial in the initial advance around 16 degrees. No issues whatsoever and it works great.

If I ran the vacuum advance, I would be forced to reduce the initial advance down to 4-6 so that I wouldn't get too much total advance. I have played around with it many times but I always come back to running no vacuum advance and it's runs better, runs stronger, starts easier, idles better, etc.

Offline 734406pk

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Re: which distributor for 440-6 with MSD 6AL
« Reply #8 on: April 15, 2017 - 09:29:50 PM »
Quote: I have a 71 cuda clone with 440-6 mild cam stock heads and headers. This is for street use.

The base timing is mainly determined by your cylinder pressure at idle speed. Do you know what your lift/duration specs are for your camshaft?
1973 Challenger 440 6 pack auto 3.91 rear
2012 Dodge Ram 3500 dually 6.7 Cummins Fleece EFI Live
1973 Challenger 318 2bbl auto 2.73 rear 22.5 mpg RIP
1970 Challenger TA 340 4bbl auto-Sold and sad
1999 Dodge Ram 3500 dually 5.9 Cummins Fleece tuned VGT-sold
1995 Kawasaki ZX1100E & still alive

Offline 351c4v71

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Re: which distributor for 440-6 with MSD 6AL
« Reply #9 on: April 16, 2017 - 05:01:04 PM »
The cam in it is very mild, it's a 270H comp cam:
http://www.compcams.com/Company/CC/cam-specs/Details.aspx?csid=700&sb=2
This is the distributor I have now and want to upgrade to fit with my MSD 6AL that I'm about to install:
https://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/dcc-3690432/reviews/
It has the vacuum advance and needs the orange box.
I'm trying to learn here because I still know very little. An accountant trying to understand his mopar you see!
2 things I don't get #1 = why do I need a convertor box for my rallye dash tach to work if I install MSD 6AL and pro billet distributor? I have the orange box and regular vac adv dist now and no need for a special convertor box.
#2 = 734406pk, you're saying that if I have a vac adv dist then no need for MSD box...but I need the orange box?why? And yes they do make RTR pro billet msd, found it at summit's link.
https://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/msd-8387
Can I use the accell coil I already have with this pro billet MSD set-up or do I need to change that to MSD as well?
Thanks :pullinghair:




Offline dodj

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Re: which distributor for 440-6 with MSD 6AL
« Reply #10 on: April 16, 2017 - 10:31:08 PM »
I run a Mopar Performance dizzy with the MSD. Seems to work fine. What advantages does the MSD pro-billet give you over the MP piece?
Scott
1973 Challenger  440 4 spd 
2007.5 3500 6.7 Cummins Diesel, Anarchy tuned.
Good friends don't let friends do stupid things. ........alone.

Offline 351c4v71

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Re: which distributor for 440-6 with MSD 6AL
« Reply #11 on: April 17, 2017 - 01:40:18 PM »
dodj, not sure what the advantages are. But all the guys whi responded to my post said they were using the MSD pro billet.
So you run the MAS 6AL box , correct? with a mopar dist? Does your original tach work and did you need a special convertor box for it?
I'd like to start with such a set-up before dishing out the dough for a pro billet.
Thanks

Offline HP_Cuda

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Re: which distributor for 440-6 with MSD 6AL
« Reply #12 on: April 17, 2017 - 02:21:34 PM »

MSD 6AL and Pro Billet - easy setup and good combo. (Well as long as the box stays alive).

The only time you need a converter is if you are using an older tach you will need the adaptor to make it work.

That's it!
1970 Cuda Clone 440 4 speed - sublime green
1970 Cuda 383 4 speed - yellow - SOLD

Offline 351c4v71

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Re: which distributor for 440-6 with MSD 6AL
« Reply #13 on: April 17, 2017 - 07:26:03 PM »
hp_cuda
What do you consider an old tach? Is the original tach in my 71 barracuda rally dash "old" ?

Offline xtopfuel

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Re: which distributor for 440-6 with MSD 6AL
« Reply #14 on: April 17, 2017 - 07:33:35 PM »
47 years old