3404spdfish
Well-Known Member
has anybody used this style of distributor? just looking for pros and cons. thanks everyone
distributor question
- Thread starter 3404spdfish
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Tested them chineese junk, They use a toyota module and usually a fast curve.
Skip White/Proform/Speedmaster and every other Chinese import distributor. Some folks have used them with great success. The modules are actually made by Bosch in Australia. Toyota may well use them too. They are kinda hard to get so most people just replace the whole unit if they go bad.
Professor Fate
Push the button, Max...
You get what you pay for. A $50 Ebay special is about what you'd expect. Erratic, cheap, and next to impossible to order parts for.
I've had a couple that came through here, never could get them to actually run well- at least for an extended period of time. Just go buy a good distributor now- you'll end up having to buy one later anyway.
Just my experience.
I've had a couple that came through here, never could get them to actually run well- at least for an extended period of time. Just go buy a good distributor now- you'll end up having to buy one later anyway.
Just my experience.
if you are in the middle of nowhere and all you need is a part for the dist... points, pickup, rotor, cap, are you going to be able to get one in a day or less?
3404spdfish
Well-Known Member
ok good thing i didn't buy it yet moving on to a regular distributor
If you have the room for the big cap GM style HEI, that's what I recommend. But most of these cars don't have the room.
3404spdfish
Well-Known Member
most of the stuff i am searching for is made by one of the manufactures above Jegs has a conversion kit so does summit but summit says proform on the side hhhhmmm
All of them come from China. So just roll the dice and make a decision.
mygasser
Well-Known Member
if it's only $50 and roadside replacement parts worries you buy 2 and carry the spare with you. 
harrisonm
Well-Known Member
I won't buy no name parts like that. I might buy a no name part like a radiator petcock or windshield washer motor/pump, but nothing important like a fuel pump, distributor, intake manifold, head, etc. Specially when someone like @halifaxhops calls them 'junk'.
Call @Johnny Mac at Blueprint Engines. He will sell you a whole ignition kit with a really nice distributor. I just recently used one on a Chevy 283 build. It's very nice.
junkyardhero
Well-Known Member
if you're looking for a whole kit:
rick's been in the mopar game a long time and sells good stuff.
mancini has a similar set up:
also member @halifaxhops can tighten you up with a factory refurb unit that's got a custom curve for your specific application and you can then source top quality bits for the rest of the install.
ForMOPAR 340 360 318 HiPo Electronic Ignition Kit Plymouth Dodge Black Brass Cap | eBay
Electronic Ignition Conversion Kit. Here's a hi-performance hot-spark hi-rev-capable (min. 7500 RPM certified) electronic ignition conversion kit for all LA angine (273 thru 360 CID) Mopars, also fits 318 Poly, and can be used for carburetor conversion on 5.2 and 5.9L Magnum V8s.
www.ebay.com
rick's been in the mopar game a long time and sells good stuff.
mancini has a similar set up:
also member @halifaxhops can tighten you up with a factory refurb unit that's got a custom curve for your specific application and you can then source top quality bits for the rest of the install.
Thanks buddy, yes all those distributors with the "Australian kickoff module" on the side are junk. They aren't adjustable at all, the bearings are regularly too tight on the shaft, so they generate heat into the electronics and burn them up. You can splice a regular gm 4 pin in, in a pinch, but they are still a garbage setup with very little adjustment capability, no advance limit bushing, etc.
You also have to watch the MSD clones, and many of them also have EXTREMELY wide advance curves out of the box, and EXTREMELY fast ignition curves.
I won't touch the oem clones either. I don't have the tribal knowledge on the stock 60's stuff, and the clones of the old blue, orange, and chrome boxes, are worst than the originals.
This is what ya want, as it's 100% line tested, and setup with the springs and limit we use on our 408's. And if it's not the correct setup for your engine, it's 100% tunable, and if it fails, it'll accept all msd replacement components. Or, we sell the spare modules.
Even comes with a hold down. No box required.
Chrysler 273-360 c.i. SB Compatible ProSeries Ready to Run Distributor - Black Cap
You need a good coil too. Not one from ebay.
45K Volt Ignition Coil - Canister Round Oil-Filled - Female Socket - Black
Spare parts easy enough to get, and if not ours, then the msd pieces go right in.
Search: 2 results found for "module"
They are a copy of a Bosch dist used on many Aussie cars in the 70/80s: Ford, GM, Mitsu, Nissan. They are/were extremely reliable. I would not hesitate to use one & I have used the 4 pin modules on various cars. They switch a little more current than the GM HEI module & actually have the same mounting centres.
I have no doubt an OE Bosch module is reliable. But these copy of a copy distributors are not. Module aside, the lack of adjustability, poor bearings, sloppy tolerances, aren't worth the risk. We got in a batch of these years ago to test in a shortage, I scrapped or returned 95% of them. Wouldn't even consider trying them again. Every country has its good and its bad, despite what continent they are on. These, are bad.
Exactly. When I said Bosch earlier, I should have said "Bosch style".
Thanks for that. Looks as though that has the YL style of advance mechanism instead of the later style Mallory YL.
Does anyone know where to get the springs for that mech adv to be able to set up a proper curve?
junkyardhero
Well-Known Member
the last time i needed some YL **** i got it from a place that does jet boats. i know a bunch of that stuff is NLA, but it pops up on flea bay from time to time. i DO know that the mr. gasket springs are kinda sorta close but fit crappy.
Those very light and thin springs are useless to tailor a slow advancing curve as the RPM's climb
junkyardhero
Well-Known Member
you'll get no argument from me.
i don't mess with no mallory junk. i like to be able to find repair parts.
In truth its easier to just get a timing computer.
Newbomb Turk
Well-Known Member
How did you see what advance mech it has?? I didn't even get the link to open.
I'm looking into making my own springs. I can't find anything close to what I need for a proper curve.
junkyardhero
Well-Known Member
there's a company in south east LA called century spring that has and can make pretty much any spring. we used them as a supplier at the dyno shop some 25yrs ago.
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