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Anyone ever try ProComp Electronics distributors (MSD look-alike at a great price)
I really like the MSD HEI distributor but not willing to pay $300 for it. Has anyone tried ProComp Electronics distributor? It looks exactly like the MSD unit, I wonder if it's one of those made in china copies. The price seems so low that it would break in a day or something.
Well, right off the bat I see a difference. Look at the bottom of the housing, just above the drive gear. On the MSD you have 2 o-rings. Not on the other makes. Those o-rings are an MSD extra that helps with the oil control.
Also, if you have a factory roller cam, don't you need a bronze drive gear?
Originally posted by Tremo Those o-rings are an MSD extra that helps with the oil control.
Also, if you have a factory roller cam, don't you need a bronze drive gear?
You can't use the O-rings on the MSD distributor on a stock block so there's useless to most people anyways. In the instructions it says it can only be used on a modified block. Also the ProComp distributor has provisions for the O-rings if you want to use them. You don't have to run a bronze gear on roller cams, it needs to be a harden gear though. Most of the aftermarket distributors and the stock distributor have hardened steal gears.
With my limited knowledge on cars I would think that these "knock-offs" would look very similar in appearance, but perform differently... thus why the "knock off". So why is there only a comparison on what they look like? I would think that function > form ... but perhaps I dont know WTF I'm talking about
Originally posted by sellmanb So why is there only a comparison on what they look like? I would think that function > form ... but perhaps I dont know WTF I'm talking about
There is only a comparison of what they look like because I have not bought one and the only thing I have is pictures. I would love to hear from someone who has bought one or find more information about them. I might have to just buy one and check out it's build quality really good before I put it on. Does anyone have picture of under the cap of the MSD unit?
Why worry about it looking like MSD, is the question? Does it really matter? It's not going to tell you anything other than it looks the same or it looks different. I'm sure the build quality is good, it's not hard to build a distributor. How good the electronics are, that's a different story and one that's much harder to tell just by looking at it. However, the MSD, isn't that a magnetic pickup? The Procomp lists a hall effect pickup.
FWIW, this distributor is cheaper than stock replacements from parts stores. Also, FWIW, this is an Australian company. I've not heard anything about them, good or bad. The only option, really, is to buy one and find out. They also seem to beat ProForm in pricing on similar items.
Here's something I dug up on the net.
Procomp Electronics
Liverpool, NSW, Australia
+612-9607-2299; Contact: Peter Kencevski
http://www.procompelectronics.com lists an address in Canada as well. Their catalog lists ignition modules like those of MSD. It's a case of reverse engineering, most likely. They've got cylinder heads, roller rockers, etc. With all of this, it's hard to say why there is no feedback in one form or another.
Originally posted by 91Z28-350 Why worry about it looking like MSD, is the question? Does it really matter? It's not going to tell you anything other than it looks the same or it looks different. I'm sure the build quality is good, it's not hard to build a distributor. How good the electronics are, that's a different story and one that's much harder to tell just by looking at it. However, the MSD, isn't that a magnetic pickup? The Procomp lists a hall effect pickup.
FWIW, this distributor is cheaper than stock replacements from parts stores. Also, FWIW, this is an Australian company. I've not heard anything about them, good or bad. The only option, really, is to buy one and find out. They also seem to beat ProForm in pricing on similar items.
I agree with that
It's like the two TV sets (or CD players, or computers) that each have a case that look exactly alike, only one is a Sony and the other is some brand you've never heard of before. The Sony, you buy from a reputable dealer, and the other is being sold by some guy who has his van set up on the streetcorner.
If you want a cheap distributor then you have that choice. But I think I'd go with a freshened up factory one first.
It makes me kind of suspicious from the start, that they're selling an MSD "look alike" and telling the buyer to compare it MSD because it's red.
You can just get a factory HEI and wire it to an MSD 6A box and coil and it works great.
The only reason I was comparing looks is because that's all I have to compare because I own neither. Yes looks tells you little to nothing but I have nothing else but pictures.
Well, give them a call. See if they can sell you on their marketing stuff. Procomp is little known. Absolutely 0 feedback on the net. Perhaps their pricing is so low because nobody is giving them a chance. I know some people are buying this stuff, you can see posts on various forums now and then about buying a Procomp dizzy. 0 followups though. It could be that it works well so nobody has anything to say.
http://www.procompelectronics.com lists an address in Canada as well. Their catalog lists ignition modules like those of MSD. It's a case of reverse engineering, most likely. They've got cylinder heads, roller rockers, etc. With all of this, it's hard to say why there is no feedback in one form or another.
It's actually Ontario, California, not Ontario, Canada, notice the zip code, not a postal code.
Office Manager - Viktorija Nikol
1147 W Brooks St
Ontario CA 91762
Tel: 909 988 3044
Fax: 909 988 6055
I've been contemplating on trying one of these myself.
Meaning it wasn't on distributor cap and wasn't in the box rattling around. It's just a hole in the cap where a terminal should be. Maybe it's the seller, I don't know. The cap looked used to me (rebuilt) since it was all scuffed up, and had grease on it.
Not yet, I'll probably install it on the weekend of the 4th of July. I need to take off my intake and clean out the EGR passages in the heads and replace my timing chain, so I'll do it then unless I get lazy.
How does the undercap compare to the MSD? I'd venture it's similar as there's not a whole lot of tech to a distributor. I do wonder how well it will keep steady timing, I don't have a dial-back light so it'll be difficult for me to tell anything above what I can read on the stock timing tab and idle.
It's possible that it is an MSD or made by the same people that make MSD's stuff. This happens a lot more than people think. People will pay more for a name because they've heard of it and believe in the millions of dollars put into marketing it.
Kinda like gas. I go to Sams and use that because it's the cheapest around. Car runs great, hell it runs better than when I put Exxon/Mobile in it.
And oil. The walmart Supertech stuff is Penzoil. Same stuff, different package. half the price.
That's true, it's possible. If there were any identifying stamps on the ignition module and pickup, it would be easier, but I haven't seen any. What bugs me about it is that it's cheaper than an OEM cheapo replacement from PepBoy's or Autozone, which normally runs around $150. This may be possible if the casing is sourced from MSD, but the parts are sourced from a Taiwanese manufacturer which may or may not make MSD. I'm not overly worried though, I'm going to rebuild my stock distributor and keep it in the garage, just in case.
Well I haven't seen any under the cap pictures of the MSD unit but I have seen under the cap pictures of the Accel unit. The magnetic pickup and wheel look identical to Accel's unit.
I've just got back from datalogging after installing a new pro-comp billet distributor. I've now got a nasty popping coming from the exhaust that didn't happen before with the stock distributor. I suspect the ignition module is muting the output to the plugs, causing unburned fuel to escape into the exhaust. However, WinALDL doesn't show an excessive overly rich condition (BLMs 115-130). Plug wires were just changed to Accel 8mm and my coil is an MSD blaster (maybe low output from the coil? - I'll try swapping the coil first).
I had a problem earlier with poor idle until I found a loose post on the cap. I replaced the cap with an old Accel cap and rotor I had laying around and my idle improved.
My performance is a little poor but I've been screwing with my chip calibration so it may be contributing to the problem. I have the old Accel ignition module so I'll swap that and see if it makes a difference.
Anybody else have any feedback on this part? I really hope it's not crap because physically, it looks awesome so I'm hoping it's just a screwy module. More to follow...
My brother bought one of the even cheaper models from ebay - not even a ProComp - one of those $75 dizzy's - an older style mechanical with the vacuum and the 50k coil on top, but it did also have the updated ignition module, hardened gear, and static capacitor. Although he didn't do any fancy computerized on-road testing (he had a carbed 305 in an 87 T/A), he said it ran fine and didn't have any problems at all. I'm switching to a carbed 350, and ordering one myself at $85. But, I'm not trying to build the best out there, not trying to have the best track times, and as with all Ebay items, I always assume a "buyer beware" approach. The price tag is just too good to not try.
There's something SERIOUSLY wrong with my ProComp distributor. From the time I put it in, the exhaust started popping and there was a serious miss @1000 - 1500 RPM. The cap had one terminal that was loose causing a poor idle. I swapped out the ignition module, cap, and rotor and it didn't help. I'm thinking that there is a problem with the pickup coil and where it lines up with the terminals on the shaft. With the engine at TDC #1, the rotor lines up OK with the distributor cap but the magnet isn't near a terminal. I needed to turn the distributor body a good distance clockwise in order to have a contact line up with the magnet in the pickup coil. I'm pretty sure this may be causing a problem with injector timing, resulting in excess fuel being dumped into the exhaust and popping, etc...
I think that's the reason why it's causing the miss. I'm going to keep playing around with it because I doubt there's any chance of me getting my $$$ back.
I do not recommend this distributor to anyone! MSD and Accel have replacements available that will offer a nice improvement over stock. In this case, you really do get what you pay for.
Back from the dead. Installed shortly after I got it and used for a good while now. No issues. All seems good on my end so far. Hypertech coil driving the spark, Taylor 8mm wires. I don't race often though, and I can't say how well it will work at 6000+ rpms. For a DD, it worked well for me.
From the sounds of the other posts, it seems that quality control is hit or miss. In summation, you get what you pay for. It may or may not work for you. If you're willing to gamble a bit, go for it. If you need guaranteed reliability, try something else.
Originally posted by Dialed_In Chinese knockoffs. Just like the cheesy Edelbrock knockoff intakes on ebay. Looks like stock guts in a billet housing. Woopie. Buy american.
Couldn't have said it better myself! Did you know that the US trade gap with China hit $201.6 bln last year! "setting a single-country record for a third consecutive year as Americans' appetite for cheap imported clothing and electronics grew. "
Although, now that I think about it, most likely some of the parts from the MSD unit probably come from China as well.
Oh well...I guess you can't really win. Pretty sad
"Buying American" doesn't make sense in an international economy with international operating sites. It would make better sense to say, America better make better ****. The big 3 US auto companies are starting to realize that. Even in the so called American companies, it's likely that a large portion of the "parts" that are used are from foreign countries.
Discussing trade deficits in a Tech section of a 3rd generation F-body board makes even less sense.
Sorry about that. When you think something is too good to be thrue, you're often right: It's not.
And I'm not the wise guy here. I have a Professional Products intake, Allstar Performance water pump and Pro Comp mini starter on my motor project...
Wonder how that will work?
i once bought a procomp off ebay for ~$89.... had it in box for 3 months untill i needed it. Used it for 25 minutes, my timing scattered 5* at idle and crazy weird at speed.
the pickup design is very crappy, and the shaft was quite loose after just those 25 minutes.
Sold it to some kid 2 weeks ago for $20...
it was worth maybe that new IMO, POS distributors!!!!
My pro comp mag pick up distributor has outlasted 2 MSD 6al ignition boxes.
with proper installation a 6al will last longer then a stock ignition module, most people use crappy ground, crappy positive connections. poor wiring....
