Electronic distribtor

Author Topic: Electronic distribtor  (Read 1771 times)

Offline Kevin71

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Electronic distribtor
« on: April 09, 2010 - 09:31:20 PM »
Whats the difference in electronic distributors?    A proform is 160.00 and MSD, Mallory’s 250.00.

  Also how do you know how much advance you need.  And how do you adjust the vacuum advance and how much.  When do you know you have enough advance and at what rpm. 

I have a 440 with a Proform electronic dist. I think.  Bought the car with it.  Can’t seem to find a distributor cap or rotor.

  If you change to a MSD system with a control box does that eliminate the ballast resistor and the orange box.  Does having multiple firing at higher rpm help.  More MPG or Horsepower.  My engine doesn’t rev past 4800 rpm.  Can’t seem to find out what the problem is and think maybe the distributor maybe it.  I have replaced the plugs, plug wires, one was shorting aginst a header, checked the firing order, and have been trying to find a cap and rotor.  The balast resistor is a 4 prong as I have AC, but when I got a new one the back on one side was open some to the spring like resistor.  Could this be shorting agianst the firewall?   

After I got it back from the painter have been having problems.  One wire was off and then the one wire was shorting out.  When ever it got up to 3800 rpm the whole car vibrated pretty bad when two cylinders weren’t firing.  Now that I have got all 8 firing it won’t rev past 4800 rpm and is vibrating some.  I had the trans changed from a auto to a 5 speed.  The pinion angle doesn’t appear to be off, but haven’t checked it.  But I had so much vibration from the two cylinders not firing, I figured I would tackle that problem first.  The car just doesn’t seem to run smoothly.  Any suggestions




Offline UKcuda

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Re: Electronic distribtor
« Reply #1 on: April 10, 2010 - 05:19:57 AM »
Whats the difference in electronic distributors?    A proform is 160.00 and MSD, Mallory’s 250.00.

  Also how do you know how much advance you need.  And how do you adjust the vacuum advance and how much.  When do you know you have enough advance and at what rpm. 

I have a 440 with a Proform electronic dist. I think.  Bought the car with it.  Can’t seem to find a distributor cap or rotor.

  If you change to a MSD system with a control box does that eliminate the ballast resistor and the orange box.  Does having multiple firing at higher rpm help.  More MPG or Horsepower.  My engine doesn’t rev past 4800 rpm.  Can’t seem to find out what the problem is and think maybe the distributor maybe it.  I have replaced the plugs, plug wires, one was shorting aginst a header, checked the firing order, and have been trying to find a cap and rotor.  The balast resistor is a 4 prong as I have AC, but when I got a new one the back on one side was open some to the spring like resistor.  Could this be shorting agianst the firewall?   

After I got it back from the painter have been having problems.  One wire was off and then the one wire was shorting out.  When ever it got up to 3800 rpm the whole car vibrated pretty bad when two cylinders weren’t firing.  Now that I have got all 8 firing it won’t rev past 4800 rpm and is vibrating some.  I had the trans changed from a auto to a 5 speed.  The pinion angle doesn’t appear to be off, but haven’t checked it.  But I had so much vibration from the two cylinders not firing, I figured I would tackle that problem first.  The car just doesn’t seem to run smoothly.  Any suggestions

That's a lot of questions.

Does it fly up to 4,800 and then give up or does it drag it's way there ?
'72 'cuda

Offline djwhog

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Re: Electronic distribtor
« Reply #2 on: April 10, 2010 - 08:37:14 AM »
In general, with a MSD it is a much hotter spark and it does help the car to make sure it does not missfire at not only high RPM's but during difficult conditions, like high compression, huge cams etc. You in most cases depends on engine combo limit RPM as to not over rev, start with more base timing like 15-20 and limit total to 32-36 and get the timing to kick in at a low rpm like 1800 and all in at 2800 or so.

Those are just a few of the areas of an MSD setup. They are a more accurate system. Now they make an all in one unit that includes the module i nthe distributor similar to a late GM type, and then you have the systems with external modules al6 , 7s etc. Depends on what they are used for.

Most modern cars IE EFI like a late model 6.1 hemi, a GM for example etc use a form this ignition which is called capacitive disscharge, hoter, longer, wider spark. Again main purpose is to make sure the plug ignites the air/fuel mix under any load condition.

What all are you looking to do with your ride and what is your setup is the ??:)

Offline Kevin71

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Re: Electronic distribtor
« Reply #3 on: April 11, 2010 - 06:25:16 PM »
I kept thinking it was a distributor problem.  Turns out the elec choke was never connected and the choke stays stuck on.  It's a new wiring harness so there should be a connector for it. But the info does help to better understand :clapping:

Offline djwhog

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Re: Electronic distribtor
« Reply #4 on: April 11, 2010 - 07:58:47 PM »
All you need on a choke is a ground and a power line that is hot when the ignition is on.

Offline Kevin71

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Re: Electronic distribtor
« Reply #5 on: April 11, 2010 - 10:55:27 PM »
thanks.  It has the ground on it, but no power line.  Is there any convient place to connect a power line.  I take it you want it to something only is hot when the ingntion is on..

Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: Electronic distribtor
« Reply #6 on: April 11, 2010 - 11:01:26 PM »
the dark blue wire at the ballast, alt  or voltage reg

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Offline Kevin71

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Re: Electronic distribtor
« Reply #7 on: April 12, 2010 - 05:16:18 PM »
 :crazy:  Thanks

Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: Electronic distribtor
« Reply #8 on: April 12, 2010 - 07:20:41 PM »
 :2thumbs:

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