Distributor, need opinions

[74 challenge]

Hey Everyone,

I am having spark issues in my #1 Cylinder, and since the park plug and wires are new I think the issue is with the distributor. However I need an education in this whole mopar distributor/ electrical ignition set up.

My car is nothing crazy 318, a904, stock heads, long tubes, edelbrock intake, edelbrock carb, flowmaster exhaust and highway rear gear. I am not looking to win any races here just a better performing distributor over the stock one. I am also looking to keep a stock looking car, not a numbers matching nut and bolt car.

I am considering this one: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/dcc-3690430/overview/year/1974/make/dodge/model/challenger

I already have the electronic ignition box, but will this one work with my current box and will it be a true bolt in set up. Also has anyone used this in the past and would they recomend it?

another option is to get this one, with the box and everything but I don't want to waste my money for a part that I will not require:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/dcc-3690426/overview/year/1974/make/dodge/model/challenger

I am open to sugestions but I don't need a part that will support a 500 horsepower monster as this car will never be that. I use it for my own enjoyment, rack up highway miles and go to local cruise-ins. I am quite mechanically able, but wiring is really not my forte here.

Thanks for your help, been a long time reader of the site and I hope to start posting more often.

[MEK-Dangerfield]

If you have the stock Mopar ignition box, then by all means get the distributor in the first link you posted.

[72cudamaan]

If you have the stock Mopar ignition box, then by all means get the distributor in the first link you posted.

    Plus it has an adjustable vac advance. If you ever want to
dial it in a bit better, you're already half way there.

[nqkjw]

If you're only having issues with the spark to number 1 cylinder I would not be suspecting the distributor itself.
Maybe a crack or tracking in the dizzy cap if you're lucky.
Even tho it's new a faulty number 1 lead maybe?

[74 challenge]

If you're only having issues with the spark to number 1 cylinder I would not be suspecting the distributor itself.
Maybe a crack or tracking in the dizzy cap if you're lucky.
Even tho it's new a faulty number 1 lead maybe?

Eliminated the idea of a faulty lead by swapping in a working wire from another cylinder and I got the same result. The reason i am thinking distributor is cylinder one is firing sometimes but not all the time, the cap/rotor were installed ages ago so they are due for replacement anyways. I am also thinking if the plugs, leads, coil, cap and rotor are going to be new I might aswell change the distributor so the whole system is new, plus the ugliest thing on my engine is the distributor.

The previous owner of the car wasn't a car guy he just liked the look of it so alot of the work on it is done to just keep it running, that's just not good enough for me.

[jimynick]

Not to be rude here, but I think you missed the point. Even though you swapped the plug wire, the problem is more likely in the cap or plug. The distributor doesn't know or care which cylinder is which and if it's missing on one, I'd put a new cap and rotor on before I went and changed out the distributor. Same goes for the plug. Good luck 

[74 challenge]

 

Not to be rude here, but I think you missed the point. Even though you swapped the plug wire, the problem is more likely in the cap or plug. The distributor doesn't know or care which cylinder is which and if it's missing on one, I'd put a new cap and rotor on before I went and changed out the distributor. Same goes for the plug. Good luck 

No I got it but why put everything new but leave a 20 year old or older distributor in place. I am aware it's likely the cap or rotor but I have to replace the intake gasket anyways so this isn't going to be extra work. The plugs are new and I checked that they work as well.

[72cudamaan]

No I got it but why put everything new but leave a 20 year old or older distributor in place. I am aware it's likely the cap or rotor but I have to replace the intake gasket anyways so this isn't going to be extra work. The plugs are new and I checked that they work as well.

Typical Mopar guy. Just looking for a good excuse to new parts on the car.      

[jimynick]

No I got it but why put everything new but leave a 20 year old or older distributor in place. I am aware it's likely the cap or rotor but I have to replace the intake gasket anyways so this isn't going to be extra work. The plugs are new and I checked that they work as well.

Sorry, I was under the impression that you were trying to repair what you had. By all means change out the distributor if it makes you feel better. There was a vendor on Ebay that was selling brand new ones for around $50 before any shipping. Again, good luck

[74 challenge]

Sorry, I was under the impression that you were trying to repair what you had. By all means change out the distributor if it makes you feel better. There was a vendor on Ebay that was selling brand new ones for around $50 before any shipping. Again, good luck

No worries, i'll take a look on ebay and see what I can find.

[barracuda7199]

just go down to your favorite local parts store and get a reman distributor. the newer mopar ones have a curve that is really quick and has cause problems for a lot of folks.