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I am going from TPI to carb and I know I need a different distibutor, but wasn't sure what to go with. I am going to get the MSD6AL, so I figured it would be best to use a MSD distributor. I have heard to just go with a stock GM hei distibutor and put a after market cap and coil on it and it would be just as good. I am going to be pushing around 430 hp, so what do you suggest? thanks
I did, but on my current 305. Am swapping a 350 next week, its a lot cheaper and probably as good to go with a standard HEI. I just wanted a new distributor, so paid the extra $2 for it. NO it was not just $2, its just a saying. Am happy with my decision tho.
it is a lot cheaper and easier to just go stock hei. you can alway up grade later. nothing wrong with msd, but if there's a problem and you make too many changes at once it's harder to trouble shoot.
I used a MSD distributor when I made my 305 TBI to 383 carb swap and I was very happy with the results. MSD makes an awesome distributor in my opinion and if you have the money I highly recommend it.
There is no need to waste money on the distributor. I wasted money on my MSD. There was no difference in track times, startups, mileage, plug life or anything. They wil not produce 'a better spark.' For the Price of the distributor, get the GM dist from paceparts.com or sdpc2000.com for well under $200. With the money saved get the MSD 6AL and MSD GM ignition coil, then you'll have a better ignition.
I disagree, my MSD ignition made one hell of a difference at the track. I dropped 3 tenths in the quarter mile by just installing an MSD 6AL and a blaster 2 coil (with MSD cap). No joke!
On a 5.0 mustang I used to have, I dropped 2 tenths with the same ignition. You have to make sure that you are running the right wires and plugs (gaps) though.
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1983 Camaro Z28
Goodwrench 350ci V8, Edelbrock Tes Headers, Flowmaster Catback, MSD 6al and Blaster 2 coil, Edelbrock Performer intake, T5, 373 rear, Eibach springs, Cervin Vega speakers, Rock. Fos. Sub, Pioneer CD,
email-chris4421@hotmail.com
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"I used to be a Mustang Guy! I didn't know the power of the dark side!!"
I find that very hard to believe that you picked up 2 or 3 tenths by adding an MSD ignition. You probably had some ignition problem you didnt know about, that the MSD unit fixed.
Its not so hard to believe picking up a couple of tenths. Put it on a stock motor and you may not see a difference. Put it on something with some "nut" and it can make all the difference in the world.
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1992 Pontiac Firebird 350/Six Speed
1987 Toyota Pickup 383/500+ HP
Hello! I currently have a 1991 Camaro RS with a 305 TBI. I have an Edlebrock intake manifold on it and have acquired a Digital MSD 6AL Ignition box (#6425), an MSD Blaster 2 Coil (#8202), and an MSD Pro Billet Distributor (#85551). I am looking to see whether or not I should install the parts on my car. I have heard mixed things about whether I should go for it, and wanted y'all's opinion.
This is my first project car, so I am trying to learn as much as I can. Thank you!
Hello! I currently have a 1991 Camaro RS with a 305 TBI. I have an Edlebrock intake manifold on it and have acquired a Digital MSD 6AL Ignition box (#6425), an MSD Blaster 2 Coil (#8202), and an MSD Pro Billet Distributor (#85551). I am looking to see whether or not I should install the parts on my car. I have heard mixed things about whether I should go for it, and wanted y'all's opinion.
This is my first project car, so I am trying to learn as much as I can. Thank you!
Thank you! I recently received all the MSD parts in a trade and was wondering if there's any way I could use them instead of going with the 8366.
I read somewhere that I could work around the ECM and use an MSD 8680 to set the timing. I know it seems like a lot of parts to do a workaround, but I was wondering if, since I have the three parts already, that is an option rather than getting the 8366.
Or, on the other hand, do you think I should try to sell the parts I acquired in the trade and save up for the 8366?
a good condition HEI distributor will support 600hp with ease and spin 7500 with no issues.
the problem is people want to plug n play and be done with it. A distributor needs to be dialed in just like the jets
in your carb. Most shops have no clue how to 'recurve' a distributor.
you can lose like 40 hp just by having an improperly set up dist curve.
=MSd stuff is nice, but a well working HEI is just as nice for alot less money..
What these guys said. I'll add to ask do you know the condition of these parts? Are they NIB, or takeoffs? I find that many MSD ignition boxes will rarely just quit, they gradually fail. And when they start to fail, the car starts acting 'weird', for lack of a better term. The car will start acting like it's running too lean, or too rich, or down on power, and you're chasing all the obvious things for those symptoms, while the stupid box is on it's way out.
If you do go with the 6AL, put it in the passenger compartment. Heat and vibration are the enemy of these things, and IMHO, the engine compartment is no place for them.
Thank you all for your comments! The parts are NIB, still sealed. I may forgo the project and focus on putting in a cam and 1.6 rockers. The engine has almost 300,000 miles. She is definitely true to the 305 name of being reliable.
I've included the parts below and a photo of my current engine bay. I was gifted a cold air intake for the 305.
That's a hot air intake but uhh, filtered air is better than non-filtered usually.
The MSD kit is more of a standalone timing setup to be paired with a carb or aftermarket TBI. You could put it on your stock motor, likely won't change a lot but you could probably get a more aggressive timing curve out of it.
Personally I'm not a huge fan of using stock fuel but aftermarket timing or vice versa, I like it all handled by the same ecm.
