Which Distributor?

[69Rcode_Mach1]

It is winter time which means the car is going under the knife again. I got new front suspension on the way, and need to decide on a distributor. I called MSD and they recommended this distributor to me. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MSD-85805/ I understand the purpose of a vacuum advance but am wondering if with my setup it is necessary or not.

Now I told the guy my combo and he felt that it is not the most streetable thing in the world so I wouldn't benefit from having any vacuum advance. The guy kept talking like I used it as a strip car so I want your guys feedback. I understand the car is not the most tame, but it is used as a weekend cruiser not so much a drag car. Once I move down to the Southern California I plan to drive this car to and from work as much as possible. The only reason it's a weekend cruiser here is because of our winters.

Given that I will drive this on the street quite a bit, do you think I would benefit from something like this: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MSD-83541/ or should I just stick with mechanical advance and call it good?

Open to all suggestions, but want an MSD distributor to go with my 6AL box. Thanks guys.

 

[rbohm]

with the cam you are using, i would delete the vacuum advance as you really cant use it to its fullest effect, and it is one less thing to deal with when troubleshooting problems.

 

[2vNotch]

+1

 

[mtaqua]

mech adv, or lock it out. I've got a little more cam and head and run 34 degrees locked out. I have a programmable 6 box and tried running an advance program and the motor did much better locked out than with a ramp.

 

[BuckeyeDemon]

shouldn't you be looking at the 8578 (mechanical) or 8478 (mechanical w/vacuum) if you already have a box?

if you get the one with the vacuum then you at least have the option to use it. big cams can lead to low vacuum at idle and with the option of the vacuum you can gain a little more advance at idle. locking your distributor to 30-34 may make it a little more difficult to start.

whatever you decide, make sure you read and understand about adjusting the bushings and springs. i doubt the base setup will be what you want.

 

[grainboy]

After viewing this thread, I am seriously considering summits plug and play billet distributor for 179.

 

[mtaqua]

mine did worse starting with timing pulled. Not that I have the same build. I'd spend the money and get the MSD.

 

[69Rcode_Mach1]

Yeah my mistake, I will be getting the one compatible with my box. Setting it up isn't an issue, I am doing 22 initial and totals up to 36 once it is all in by 3000. I will play with it once I get it back on the dyno. Just torn on whether the vacuum advance is worth having or not for a car that will be driven quite a bit, performance comes first, but more than 10mpg with a 5 speed would be nice.

 

[BuckeyeDemon]

you'll need to order a special bushing to get 14 degrees of mechanical. they are available. just not from MSD. i think you'll find 36 will be a lot more than that engine wants.

 

[69Rcode_Mach1]

Yeah that's what I figured. I thought these engines like around 34-36 total timing?

 

[mtaqua]

Probably somewhere between 32-36. Mine liked 34 the most, lost power either direction. Getting 8 MPG. 4.30's bigger heads, cam and 1100 dommy.

 

[palerider94]

+ ive got the vacuum advance on my 347 set up and ended up capping the hose. I need to pull it out and lock it out one of these days. I was having some off idel acceleration issues. Thought it was carb but local engine builder was looking at my car and plugged - not more offi idle issues.

 

[grainboy]

Yeah that's what I figured. I thought these engines like around 34-36 total timing?

More like 34 total.

 

[69Rcode_Mach1]

I see, well looks like no vacuum advance it is. She'll just have to be an expensive daily driver.

 

[Hack]

How much advance the motor likes depends on how good the combustion chamber and spark plug location is. I don't know about the Vic Jr. heads, but I would think modern heads with a good combustion chamber should like less than 34 degrees advance. I would expect 34 degrees with 60s or 70s iron heads, though.