well.. here's the short of it. i installed a msd 6a ignition box a few weeks ago. so im driving back to school, and it(engine) cuts off. turns out, the wires going into the distributor(from the ign. box) had gotten up in the rotor and been cut. so, since they were too long anyways(thats why they had gotten up in the rotor), i just cut them and slapped on two new male connectors(just like the ones originally on the wire harness). btw, these two wires comming from the box are what replaces the module. so anyways, i get it home, do this, and now it will start very easily(as before), idle fairly good, but when i try to rev it quickly, it sputters and doesnt want to rev (it does rev, but while doing so it sounds like it's missing). however, if i rev it slowly, it runs smoothly and will go to any rpm. so, i've ruled out(as far as i can tell) the chance of a shortage of electricity. i pulled a plug to see if it was running rich and it was very black(shiny too, like it had just been dunked in gas). the reason i say gas is bc i dont see any blue smoke at all from the pipes, though i dont see any black smoke either.. so, i dont see how it went from running great down the highway at 70mph, two wires being cut which i replaced, and now it doesnt want to rev quickly. the car is a carbed 383 in a 74 camaro. i know i know, its not a third gen, but if these constant problems that i've been having for over a year now(thank the lord its not the car i have to depend on to get me where i need to go) dont stop soon.. its gonna get the boot from my garage and a a nice late model third gen is gonna find a nice home here.

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• 83 Z28--ttops, 200k miles--very ragged out. sold, thank goodness
• 74 Z28--slightly modded 383, TH400 tranny, not too quick but fun to drive

 

I am thinking you damaged soemthing when the wire got broken. It doesn't seem to be putting out the right pasrk if it is running like that. Did you check to see if anything is bent under the cap?

 

Man I can't type sorry. I think you should check the rotor and the cap contacts. Does it miss at all? Might not be contacting all cylinders all the time.

 

little suggestion for those wires that got cut in your distributor, use the screw hole from the module as a place to secure them. i used a small screw and a washer, they wont move again. as for the problem with the revving, check the connections well, you may have a bad crimp. also check the advance (im assuming its a vacuum advance). it sounds like it isnt advancing, which is why you have to bring it up so slowly.

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85 IROC 350 11:1keith blacks,.555lift erson roller cam,1.5 crane roller rockers,edelbrock intake,holley 4150 750dbl pumper, nitrous oxide,full length heddman headers,true dual exhaust, 11"stall converter, 700R4, 3.73 locker

 

yea.. how can you tell when you need new advance springs? i think this distributor may have some age to it.. but i dont think its too old.. so how would i know if i need new springs or the advance mechanism is worn out?

 

sheesh! found the problem. When the wires had been cut(im assuming), something funny happened and melted all the plastic around the button.. i still cant get it out, so i had to go get a new cap and button. runs awesome now. thx for the help