Hey, i'm thinking about getting a new distributor to replace my stock non-cc setup on my carbed car.
Rather than get a new high perf coil and module, I figured it'd be close to the same cost to get a whole new unit, with a nice new free moving advance mechanism etc.
I welded up the advance slots a bit, but i'd prefer to have them adjustable. I'm not sure how this typically works, bushings? Something else?

What's my best bet here, anyone know a part # they can toss me? I'd rather not use an ignition box, I just want a stand alone distributor, but should I just get a relatively cheap style one, and buy an advance kit with bushings (does that actually limit my mech travel?) or should I spend the big bucks and get one of those distributors that advertise an adjustable amount of mechanical advance travel? (for the life of me I can't find that distributor anymore either?)

Thanks

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-S...QQcmdZViewItem

Seems like a great deal to me. There are several as well.

 

The bushings in the "weight and bushing" sets are just to replace the worn-out stock pivot bushings, they don't limit the advance.

If you've got the cash, then try the MSD 8394 E-curve. Add an external coil and it's ready to run. There are no annoying weights and springs to deal with, and the advance curve you set is exactly the advance curve you get.

Second best would be any ready to run "billet" distributor (MSD 8360 or equivalent). Third best (and cheapest) would be a rebuilt GM distributor.

 

Hmm, well, the main thing I want to get, is a complete distributor. $300 and I still need to buy a coil is kinda hard to swallow. In spite of the fact i'm hoping to get this as a grad present...

You think 3rd best would be a rebuilt GM? Reason i'd like to avoid that, is that I want the easily adjustable (limitable) mechanical travel, without welding or grinding. Otherwise i'd just rebuild my dist with a new coil and module. I'm also worried I might have pressed on the advance slot area in the wrong place. It seems to have a bit of vertical slop in it. That's why i'd prefer a new piece.

Anyway, I figured I could get a limitable mech travel distributor for roughly the same price as the $150 basic units, but no such luck. Is this one by Pertronix a good one?

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1∂=PNX%2DD1000&N=700+0&autoview=sku

$220 isn't *too* bad.

 

Adjusting the amount of advance isn't as important as adjusting the rate.

That Pertronix one would be fine. So would Summit's own HEI distributor, with an advance kit.

 

Well, the rate is easy, with the springs eh? That I can buy a kit for, and do on any distributor, so I take that for granted.
I just welded up my slots to have 24* base timing, and 12* mech travel, i'm thinking i'd like to bring the base down a tad, open up my mixture tubes, and increase the mech travel. Either way, i'd prefer it to be easy to change.
Alright, cool, thanks. I'll put the Pertronix one on my wish list then.

 

Easy to change is why I went with the E-curve. I'm also using an MSD 6AL though, so I could also have used Crane's electronic advance distributor that only has a magnetic trigger. I just got tired of all the trial-and-error work messing around with cheap spring and weight kits on the distributor machine. Doing it on the car is even worse.

 

I went with a proform for my car there pretty nice piece. i think I paid $170 for it.

http://www.proformparts.com/mistore/...pany_id=100719

 

i went with a reman a month or so ago. added the crane hei advance kit, 800-3200 springs. found out my fancy 3 year old hi-po coil was causing my miss, so i shelved that in favor of a low-po autozone special.

love the advance curve, no more bogging at all. wish i could limit the mechanical i'd be one happy lark, but so far so good. maybe MSD coil/module down the road, but i just bought an edge TC and sending the 700r4 in to be rebuild...