I need help with choosing a distributor for sbc. Must be small cap, with adjustable mechanical advance and have a vacuum advance. Male HEI style cap. Prefer to be ready to run. I do not have an ignition box at this time and dont want to have to install one at this point.

Currently looking at either the MSD 8360 http://www.summitracing.com/parts/msd-8360 or the Mallory 4248201 http://www.summitracing.com/parts/maa-4248201.

Ive heard good and bad about the MSD. Some people love them, others have said that they are failure prone. Also heard the same about the Mallory. But I am not sure of what other options there are that fit my needs.

Anybody have any feedback good or bad from either unit? Any suggestions on another type?

Also, with a flat tappet cam, what distributor gear do I need to run? I believe iron or would be the right material right?

 

Just looked at the Mallory 8360M. Appears to be a cheaper version that is ready-to-run, atleast per mallory's website. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ma...make/chevrolet

Summit also has a house branded similar unit: 850205 http://www.summitracing.com/parts/su...make/chevrolet But I dont know who makes them. But the instructions look alot like the Mallory unit.

 

I know the msd units aside from the msd hei's do not come with adjustable vacuum advance. I am not sure about the others.

 

You are right from what I have read. The MSD has a 10 degree vac setting while the Mallory is not mentioned. Id rather have about 10-14 degrees adjustable, but 10 should be fine.

So far the MSD is my #1 choice.

 

Accel, and DUI, Mallory I have had before and they work great.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/du...t/model/camaro

 

DUI doesn't offer a small cap design. Atleast I couldn't find one.

Accel doesn't offer a style I need either and quality Im not so sure of.

Thanks though.

 

There a little expensive, but check these out.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/msd-8394

 

Yeah Ive seen that and thought about it, but then that's another $100 basically to save you time on the mechanical advance and give you an adjustable vac advance. Not sure an adjustable vac curve is really worth it.

Interesting thing I seen was that MSD instructions have you connect the vac advance to the timed port.

 

They all do lol

Can you image the explaining and all the phone calls if they said to hook it up to full vacuum!

 

Im going to have to go back and read about timing vs manifold vac in my other thread. I must be confused once again.

 

I read that the crane adjustable vac canister can be installed on the MSD 8360, but I havent confirmed that.

EDIT: You can install the crane adjustable vac canister on to a MSD 8360.

 

I don't think you are confused.

In reference to your original post which you edited.

The whole thing with vacuum advance is most people just don't understand what it does or how it works. Yes there are some great articles online explaining it, but keep in mind most people are not online reading this stuff and are also set in their ways and don't care to read it or hear from someone else trying to explain it to them.
From what I have seen a large percentage of people think it's some kind of emissions device that has no place on a performance engine. Which is why there are so many people buying aftermarket distributors without vacuum advance and putting them on their 300 hp crate engines. And unfortunately you will never be able to convince them otherwise, let alone that it should be hooked up to full manifold instead of ported in most cases.

 

The key function of vacuum advance is to improve engine efficiency by adding a small amount of timing lead at cruise. Since vacuum drops off at full throttle, vacuum advance was intended at the factory level to have little affect on the full power timing curve. GM and others used vacuum advance cans with various spring rates that required various amounts of vacuum to activate them. They also used cans with various orifice sizes to adjust the rate at which vacuum advance drops off. OEMs connected the vacuum advance to full manifold vacuum to improve idle quality on many of their engines, especially on engines laden with smog equipment and heavy accessory loads.

Many high performance engine builders don't want the added timing lead at cruise because it also increases head temperature. On an engine that is already running close to the limits of compression ratio, fuel and timing for maximum power output on low octane fuel, you don't want this added heat. A 300 HP motor wouldn't be included here, but a 400+hp motor with 10:1 or higher compression may have issues, especially in hot weather. EGR helps overcome the high head temps by injecting inert gas into the intake stream at cruise.

The durability issues with MSD's "ready to run" distributors are the same as with any all in one distributor. Electronics don't really like heat. Installing the entire ignition control system in the hottest area of the engine compartment isn't conducive to longevity or reliability. I understand that you want to keep things simple and avoid using an external module. However, until the technology improves alot from where it is now, I cannot recommend any of the all in one distributors. Unless you're talking about an old school points ignition. Aside from the hassle of changing points every 6,000 or so miles, they are very reliable.

 

I don't know why you think distributors with built in ignition modules don't last. I'm sure there are many people on here who have had theirs for years and many thousand miles who would disagree.

 

Well got a MSD 8360 coming. We will see how it does.

 

Good ole OEM ICM's maybe.
The quality of the parts in MSD's for example is not what it once was, now they are apparently made out of the country

 

That's one thing that has worried me about the MSD. I took a chance and got a used one. Hoping it is older and better quality yet still in good working shape. Guess I will see.

 

The old one's weren't made in this country either, mexico or canada.
I have not seen any abnormal failure rate in icm's any different over the years unless you buying some cheapo junk from china on ebay. Even though there are a lot of sub par products coming from china that doesn't mean everything coming from there is.
With that being said I do believe if you have the few extra dollars to spend you should always look into finding an american made product to support american business and labor.

 

I agree. If it weren't for having to go with a small cap design, I would have stuck with a large cap HEI, probably stock GM with a selection of aftermarket components.

 

Used mallorys for many many years and never a miss hiccup or failure
Dont know if their quality is the same these days


You couldnt give me an MSD anything.
The Summit "MSD" dist are pure garbage ask me how I know
So are the curve kits
Youre not saving anything trust me.

Eventually be switching back to a good ol blueprinted HEI and good coil thats all you need and they almost never ever fail.

Maybe youll have better luck

 

Those summit distributors are not made by msd and re badged for summit. They are cheap Chinese copies made for summit. I have seen them used twice in friends cars. The quality isn't as good as a real msd, but they are also still both working perfectly.