MSD Distributor suggestions

[jcode68]

I need to chose a distributor for my setup and have pretty much settled on MSD based on the reputation and popularity of their products. I have a 347 stroker with all roller valve train that will see mostly street use with some infrequent trips to the track. Which distributor do you recommend? Vaccum advance or no? What material should the drive gear be given my roller valve train? What other considerations need to be reviewed to chose the best distributor? Thanks.

 

[mustangdave]

They have a ready to run dist. that does not require an external box ( the coil is on top of the dist.). If it fouls up, you have to send the whole unit back to MSD. If you run one of their dist. with an external box you have more options such as rev control, rpm limiters, timing retards, etc... If you want, they have the connectors to run two boxes so if one goes bad, you can flip a switch to run off of the other one. Send off the bad one and you have no downtime. I think you'll need a steel gear for your roller cam.

 

[jcode68]

Steel gear installation

I have decided to go with the seperate 6AL box rather than the all in one unit.
So I did some more research on MSD's site and Summit and it looks like I will have to buy the distributor which comes with a iron gear, also order the steel gear (another $68) and then have a machine shop install the gear since it's press fit and may also require a new roll pin hole to be drilled.crapola Is this what most have experienced? Seems odd that MSD wouldn't offer one ready to run with the correct gear given the popularity of roller camshafts. I want to order today, but want to confirm what I laid out here first. I would prefer to buy sa turn key and not have to run around and involve a machine shop.

 

[jerry S]

I have decided to go with the seperate 6AL box rather than the all in one unit.
So I did some more research on MSD's site and Summit and it looks like I will have to buy the distributor which comes with a iron gear, also order the steel gear (another $68) and then have a machine shop install the gear since it's press fit and may also require a new roll pin hole to be drilled.crapola Is this what most have experienced? .

I did it myself in my garage with a dremel.

 

[jcode68]

I did it myself in my garage with a dremel.

Did you need to press the old gear off and the new gear on? I don't have a press, but do have a Dremel.

 

[06cobra]

Forget the MSD disty, they are over rated, and you have to deal with those stupid springs.

I opted for the Crane Disty, with MSD 6AL box, I'm glad I did, very happy with the unit. Couple turns of the screw driver, and I can tune the curve INCLUDING Vacuum advance. Nice thing too, is for those Track dayz, you can lock out either the Mech or Vac advance and run it straight up. then a couple seconds and you can get turn it all back on and ready for street and efficiency duty. Using this on a roller 331

 

[jerry S]

Did you need to press the old gear off and the new gear on? I don't have a press, but do have a Dremel.

Getting it off required buying a three armed extractor for EUR 35 which I will never use again.

http://lux-produkte.emil-lux.de/werkzeugkatalog_public/index.asp?lngExpID=840&lngObjIdLayout=-1&lngObjID=8559&strLngID=en


I got the gear back on simply by being persuasive with it using a hammer and a block of wood. I then drilled the hole using the eyeball method. the specs are pretty tight but I am sure I am on the money. The funny thing is that I did all this based on the misinformation that I had a hydraulic roller cam, which I don't. It wasn't until I got my cam card and the receipt that I realized I had a regular hydraulic cam. Doh! In retrospec, it was a lot of work and if I had to do it all over again, I would have sent it to a machine shop. Just a thought, rather than getting a steel or a bronze gear, get a composit gear.

 

[jcode68]

Hmm, me thinks me likey

Forget the MSD disty, they are over rated, and you have to deal with those stupid springs.

I opted for the Crane Disty, with MSD 6AL box, I'm glad I did, very happy with the unit. Couple turns of the screw driver, and I can tune the curve INCLUDING Vacuum advance. Nice thing too, is for those Track dayz, you can lock out either the Mech or Vac advance and run it straight up. then a couple seconds and you can get turn it all back on and ready for street and efficiency duty. Using this on a roller 331

I never really looked at the Crane units, but just did some reading on their website and Summit's to get a price. Looks like I can get one of these for about $319 with the steel gear already installed and not have to dick around with machine shops (nothing personal against machinists, I used to be one , just don't have the time). Anyone else running this combo? 06cobra, why did you decide to mix and match components using MSD box rather than going all Crane? Any issues with going this route? Sorry for all the questions, but i want to buy this once and get it right!

 

[SoCalCruising]

Crane here, too. I'm using the Jacobs controller. The reason I didn't use MSD is that it requires (as far as I''ve heard from those who have it) 12V to work. If your battery is low, too bad. The Jacobs works down to 9.xV. I don't know anything about the Crane box.

 

[06cobra]

Jcode - I already owned the MSD 6AL before I knew any better.

That being said, the 6AL has worked great for me, any disty will work with a CD or Electric ignition box (duraspark for example) the disty really doesn't care what is powering it.

You can use a reman factory Disty from an 85 Stang, they came with roller cam and Carburetor, they have the steel gear installed on it. and power it to a MSD or any other CD ignition.

 

[spirockp]

A few tips. If you need to change the gear, (MSD or any other model) take it to a machine shop or send it to MSD themselves. The gears should NOT be pounded off and or on. This ruins the bearings. Also, the gear has to be in the exact spot by 1000's of an inch or it may bind on the bottom of the block when you insert it. (Been there, done that!)

If your going to go with MSD, call them first. They be able to supply you with the parts and you can save time and money shipping it to them.

 

[jcode68]

Thanks for the responses fellas! It looks like MSD is making a comparable unit to the Crane model, fully adjustable timing curve without weights and spings. However, looks like it's just available for the damn Cheby's, of course. The Crane unit is looking real good to me and I am also looking at their CD box as well, which has programable rev limiter in 100 rpm increments, without the need for chips. Is anyone else running the Crane ignition setup and if so, how do you like it? Any problems? I know Crane is a reputable company and when you stack up their products against MSD, they seem to be leading edge, hopefully not bleeding edge

 

[347Fastback]

Try a MSD 8598 Ford 289/302 Hyd Roller Distributor with a 6AL box and MSD Coil.... Perfect for your engine...

 

[jcode68]

What size shaft? - keep it clean fellas

I think I decided to go with the Cran Cams distributor given the features it has over the MSD units. Summit lists 2 versions: 1 has 1/4" shaft and the other is 5/16" shaft. Which one is correct for my 347 stroker? I want to be sure before I order. Thanks guys.

 

[jcode68]

I think I decided to go with the Cran Cams distributor given the features it has over the MSD units. Summit lists 2 versions: 1 has 1/4" shaft and the other is 5/16" shaft. Which one is correct for my 347 stroker? I want to be sure before I order. Thanks guys.

Just bumping this thread to see if someone knows the answer to this question. 1/4" or 5/16" shaft? Summit doesn't explicitly state which one and I don't want to order the wrong part. Thanks.

 

[67efivert]

1/4 shaft for 302 based engines and 5/16 for 351 based engines ( at least im assuming there talking bout the oil pump drive)

 

[jcode68]

Brilliant!

I had a feeling it was a 302 vs 351 type deal. Thanks for the response.