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Which distributor would be best?

74Runneer

74Runneer

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I have a 74 318 with a 340 like cam. Headers and duel exhaust, 600 cfm edelbrock, performer intake. Right now my engine would run best at 12* initial timing. but with the smog non adjustable distributor on it now the total timing is around 42 which is way too much. Id like to get a cheap distributor that will allow me to get my total advance to around 35*. Im only 18 and dont have all that much money so id like to keep it as cheap as i can.

Would this fulfill my needs? Can I adjust it to 35* total advance? http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-850027/overview/make/plymouth

There are also some very cheap ones on ebay for $60 to $80. Anyone had any luck with these?
 
If you can get to a junkyard, any small block vacuum advance electronic distributor will work for not a lot of dough. Or you can get a reman unit from AutoZone, O'Reilly, or NAPA for under a hundred bucks. If you go the junkyard route, stay away from the mid 70s LeanBurn units: no vacuum advance, like what you have now.
I run an HEI setup that I bought offa eBay, but that may be more than you want to spend. The MP electronic ignition kits are a good value in my opinion.
 
Iwent with Skip White Performance http://www.skipwhiteperformance.com/default.aspx They have a drop in, self contained, electronic distributor for $65. Their Distributor eliminates (bypasses) your factory control module and balast resistor. Everything is on the back of the distributor in a little box. Give them a call. They do not show one for the small blocks on the website but they do have them. I installed one on my `66 Poly 318 after hearing from a buddy who used one on his `73 360 (basically the same setup as yours). They will walk you through what you need to do, right over the phone. You will need to change plug wires as their cap has male ends. I opted for some MSD 8MM Sure Fires from autozone for an additional $50. I left the plug wire 'hat' off and most do not notice that it's not original. Strong fire, smooth idle, and nothing to adjust.
 
Dako- Is this the one you were talking about? http://www.skipwhiteperformance.com/detail.aspx?Item=6613-R
It says that i would need to buy a mallory cdi system for this distributor. Those are $200...


jonnyuma- Would these used distributors maybe from the 80s or 90s have adjustable mechanical advance? Would they put my total mechanical advance at or around 30*?
 
Why do you think 42 total timing is too much ? Total timing is initial + mechanical + vacuum.
 
42 degrees total is way too much for a small block.
 
I'm not sure that you want a points type distributor but I would be tempted to try a reman distributor from NAPA (part # NRD 483820). It's the stock replacement distributor on mid to late 60s 318s. It would cost about $60 and comes with points & condenser. I would start at about 36 degrees total with the vacuum disconnected and go from there.
 
74Runneer said:
Dako- Is this the one you were talking about? http://www.skipwhiteperformance.com/detail.aspx?Item=6613-R
It says that i would need to buy a mallory cdi system for this distributor. Those are $200...


jonnyuma- Would these used distributors maybe from the 80s or 90s have adjustable mechanical advance? Would they put my total mechanical advance at or around 30*?
Click to expand...



That is not the distributor I was talking about. The one I was talking about is an HEI (electronic) type but is not currently listed on their site, that is why i said to call them.
 
Dako said:
That is not the distributor I was talking about. The one I was talking about is an HEI (electronic) type but is not currently listed on their site, that is why i said to call them.
Click to expand...

Okay i thought that was weird. Ill have to call them and talk to them. Does the distributor have an adjustable mechanical advance?
 
Low compression engines like a lot timing....small or big block. Only way to find out what it likes is to try it. So far I've had two engines that liked around 50 total. First time I did one like that I didn't trust my timing light and went and got another and it read the same. One engine was 8-1 and the other (a small block) measured out at 7.8. The 7.8 was a 318 with 360 heads and it ran a 13.50 @ 102 and wouldn't do that until it got bumped up to 50! Initial was somewhere around 20 and yes, the balancer was checked when the cam was degreed in to make sure it was on the money.
 
Well my compression is around 9 to 1 because of the small combustion chambers in the 302 casting heads. Im just not really sure what to do. What will happen if i keep running my car with the distributor it has on it? Do i need to upgrade?
 
50 would most likely be too much for yours lol....do you hear any ping/rattle when you stomp on it? Do you hear any light throttle ping? What do the plugs look like? Plugs will usually give you a good sign if you have too much timing and a burn off ground strap is a real bad sign but look at the electrode too. There's lots of good info on the net telling you how to read plugs and lots of pic examples too.
 
I don't hear any pinging. Not quite sure that that sounds like. I've floored it and listen to see of I could hear anything out of the ordinary but I didn't here anything. Did cars from the 80s have lower mechanical advances? Ill check my plugs today.
 
I just talked to Don today and I went all out and bought a new ignition module, coil with bracket, and distributor. He quickly talked me into it as he can adjust the distributor perfectly with all the specs given to me. Everything should be great now. Im just waiting for all to get here!
 
If you have bigger cam, you may need to re-curve your mechanical advance on the distributor to work best with your cam. Actually with the setup on my 340, bigger cam and higher compression the distributor is being re-curved and doing away with vacuum advance all together.
 
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