1985 350 HEI dist. replacement

[Zach079xxx]

Went to the shop I deal with a lot today to get my timing adjusted. I ran it down the interstate last week and it heated up and let me dizzy come loose. He was out in th shop, me beside him, adjusting it. He didn't know what he was doing or something and before I know it my engine was smoking like a freight train. He burnt up my control modulator is what he called it. Stores want anywhere from 140-200 dollars new or re manufacture. He says I might as well upgrade my dizzy, and if that's the case I want MSD. He says over 100k miles it's time to upgrade it. I have NO clue what I'm looking at on summit. Whatever dizzy I buy, it has to have everything needed to run.

Can you guys shed some light on what I should buy? I don't have th funds for this being I just spent 2500 on my rebuild. Any help would be appreciated.

1985 GMC Sierra classic 1500 - 350 SBC

[RodsGreen10]

Originally Posted by Zach079xxx

Went to the shop I deal with a lot today to get my timing adjusted. I ran it down the interstate last week and it heated up and let me dizzy come loose. He was out in th shop, me beside him, adjusting it. He didn't know what he was doing or something and before I know it my engine was smoking like a freight train. He burnt up my control modulator is what he called it. Stores want anywhere from 140-200 dollars new or re manufacture. He says I might as well upgrade my dizzy, and if that's the case I want MSD. He says over 100k miles it's time to upgrade it. I have NO clue what I'm looking at on summit. Whatever dizzy I buy, it has to have everything needed to run.

Can you guys shed some light on what I should buy? I don't have th funds for this being I just spent 2500 on my rebuild. Any help would be appreciated.

1985 GMC Sierra classic 1500 - 350 SBC

If you are stuck on MSD get this one.

http://m.summitracing.com/parts/msd-8362

[Zach079xxx]

I'm on the phone with summit and he says it won't work for my truck. IDK I like MSD i've heard good things about them before.

I just need one that has everything in the kit and ready to go. My dizzy now looks like the one above, big and fat. It's not skinny like others I've seen on summit but those aren't HEI either I don't think.

[RodsGreen10]

Originally Posted by Zach079xxx

I'm on the phone with summit and he says it won't work for my truck. IDK I like MSD i've heard good things about them before.

I just need one that has everything in the kit and ready to go. My dizzy now looks like the one above, big and fat. It's not skinny like others I've seen on summit but those aren't HEI either I don't think.

My bad didn't see the year of your truck. its possible your truck has a Electronic Spark Control (ESC).

[RodsGreen10]

Does your truck have a ECM?

[RodsGreen10]

Also tell the dumb ass when setting the timing disconnect the vacuum from the dizzy to the carb. 34 degrees total timing is ruffly what 98% sbc like.

[Zach079xxx]

Is that why it fried whatever it did? I was pissed

Originally Posted by RodsGreen10

Also tell the dumb ass when setting the timing disconnect the vacuum from the dizzy to the carb. 34 degrees total timing is ruffly what 98% sbc like.

[83GMCK2500]

Yeah, you need the early HEI, coil in cap, like the MSD recommended (8362). The small body one is also HEI but it's found in the later (TBI) engines.

Which dist does the Summit rep think you need?

[Zach079xxx]

Now he says it will work, he checked with MSD. He doesn't know why the website says it won't work. Guess I'm going with the 8362 and keeping my fingers crossed. What a stressful day, go to get timing adjusted and in spending 200 bucks now. It worries me because it has everything needed all you need to do is install it and connect wires and have timing set. Which is why I came in the first place. If they burn this one up its on them. He didn't know what he was doing. He didn't even know what timing tape is, I bought the universal MSD kit for all different size harmonic balancers, he said those are only for aftermarket balancers. Ugh

[Zach079xxx]

Not sure what that is. Help a brother out, I'm new to this stuff.

[RodsGreen10]

Originally Posted by Zach079xxx

Not sure what that is. Help a brother out, I'm new to this stuff.

Electronic Control Module.

Here read this article below. This guy has a 85 with a 305 not a 350 like you do.

http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/drivetrain/escrepl.htm

[Zach079xxx]

As far as I KNOW I do not have that. As far as I know it's just a HEI dizzy nothing else electronic

Originally Posted by RodsGreen10

Electronic Control Module.

Here read this article below. This guy has a 85 with a 305 not a 350 like you do.

http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/drivetrain/escrepl.htm

[RodsGreen10]

Originally Posted by Zach079xxx

As far as I KNOW I do not have that. As far as I know it's just a HEI dizzy nothing else electronic

If that the case the MSD should work. Hell all you got is a Gen1 Small Block.

[Zach079xxx]

Cool beans, I placed the order. Now watch the idiot burn this up. Still blows my mind he said he's never seen timing tape and stock balancers can't use them.

Originally Posted by RodsGreen10

If that the case the MSD should work. Hell all you got is a Gen1 Small Block.

[RodsGreen10]

also take you dizzy to a local performance shop and get it curved. If you or your so called mechanic don't know take it to someone who does.

[Zach079xxx]

The guy who built my engine less than 1000 miles ago is who I wanted doing it. But he's not in town until mid November.

What should I tell the shop to do before installing it? Because apparently he's clueless

What is curved and can I have my regular guy who built my engine do it at a later date?

[RodsGreen10]

Originally Posted by Zach079xxx

The guy who built my engine less than 1000 miles ago is who I wanted doing it. But he's not in town until mid November.

What should I tell the shop to do before installing it? Because apparently he's clueless

What is curved and can I have my regular guy who built my engine do it at a later date?

first tell the guy who does not have a clue to read a book or get on the Internet and watch a YouTube video **** lol! Call around and find someone I wouldn't take it back. Yes your engine builder can curve it correctly for you motor/cam. But I wouldn't put it in until it was curved. Hell you could do it from what you told me that other guy knows. If you can wait I would wait if not roll the dice. I have a 385 stroker that is putting down 585. I had my dizzy custom built by DUI for my motor specs. But a dizzy is a dizzy it will come with a chart and springs read the chart and curve it your self if you know your motor and cam. Setting timing is easy with a timing light and a small rotation clock or counterclock wise. I set my timing with full/total timing I do not worry with initial timing cause once I set total timing my initial is set. I also don't run vacuum advance either. But I have a race motor in my truck. Plus I will run more timing than you also.

[Zach079xxx]

He has been good for years lol then I bring in ole Betsy and he freaks out. I'll tell him to get another mechanic on it or something then once my REAL mechanic is back I'll have him look it over. It's dead in the water until this dizzy comes. I had to get my dad to pick me up, and my mom is going to tear into them tomorrow I'm guessing. Hate to be them right about now lol

[cadillac_al]

I don't see how he fried a module. They just fail at the weirdest times. I have never had a need for timing tape either because I use a dial back timing light. I wouldn't call this mechanic a dumb ass just yet. You could have gotten a $40 Skip White distributor that would work just as good as an MSD. I have them on all my vehicles. The oldest one is probably over 5 years old now.

[68c10owner]

Originally Posted by cadillac_al

You could have gotten a $40 Skip White distributor that would work just as good as an MSD. I have them on all my vehicles. The oldest one is probably over 5 years old now.

They you got lucky. A friend bought one and didnt even make it down the street before that damn thing burned up. Several guys on another forum I go to have had similar problems with them as well. I`ll never buy anything from Skip White.

[cadillac_al]

Originally Posted by 68c10owner

They you got lucky. A friend bought one and didnt even make it down the street before that damn thing burned up. Several guys on another forum I go to have had similar problems with them as well. I`ll never buy anything from Skip White.

I am super lucky because I have 5 of them. One on a 250 Chev, one on an Olds and 3 Chevy small blocks and never a problem; not even a module. Still using the same caps and rotors they came with. I dunno but I saved a lot of cash and they look killer. I'm not getting a commission so I won't push them but they work for me.

I still can't figure how a guy could fry a module by setting the timing. Even hooking everything up backwards I can't see it. Weird though, to see it smoke right in front of you.

[TrybalRage]

Originally Posted by 68c10owner

They you got lucky. A friend bought one and didnt even make it down the street before that damn thing burned up. Several guys on another forum I go to have had similar problems with them as well. I`ll never buy anything from Skip White.

I just bought my Skip White distributor and installed it last weekend. Seems ok so far... hope it holds up.

[Zach079xxx]

Maybe it was just bad luck. I don't know. I could've gotten a cheaper but I wanted to try MSD. I hope to see some difference in that vs stock. All I know is, white smoke poured out the dizzy and he was blowing it like trying to light kindle for a fire, funny now that I look back at it.

As far as the timing tape goes, I got it because I looked around and it looked well worth 5 bucks.

[enaberif]

Originally Posted by Zach079xxx

Maybe it was just bad luck. I don't know. I could've gotten a cheaper but I wanted to try MSD. I hope to see some difference in that vs stock. All I know is, white smoke poured out the dizzy and he was blowing it like trying to light kindle for a fire, funny now that I look back at it.

As far as the timing tape goes, I got it because I looked around and it looked well worth 5 bucks.

Stock vs MSD? Don't make me laugh.

Stock distributors are perfectly capable but manufacturing companies have made it out to seem these aftermarket products are the cats ass.

You could go to Napa and buy a GOOD coil and other components for a stock distributor and be miles ahead of the cost of a MSD.

Also distributors seldomly go bad and the only really bad thing that could go wrong is a distributor will have too much shaft play.

Get a stock distributor, a recurve kit, a shim kit and a adjustable vac advance can and save a ton of money and do it properly and well.

[68c10owner]

Originally Posted by enaberif

Stock vs MSD? Don't make me laugh.

Stock distributors are perfectly capable but manufacturing companies have made it out to seem these aftermarket products are the cats ass.

You could go to Napa and buy a GOOD coil and other components for a stock distributor and be miles ahead of the cost of a MSD.

Also distributors seldomly go bad and the only really bad thing that could go wrong is a distributor will have too much shaft play.

Get a stock distributor, a recurve kit, a shim kit and a adjustable vac advance can and save a ton of money and do it properly and well.

Coil, pick up coil and ignition module can all fail at any time. I'm not going to try to speculate on how something could have fried as I wasn't there. Stock is perfectly fine but nothing wrong with the MSD. They should come with new cap, rotor and coil. Buddy bought one for $120.