MSD Street Fire - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

rennalds · 12-01-2009, 07:34 PM

About to install a MSD street fire HEI Distrib on a 350. Anyone have any tips?
Everything I have read around these forums suggests connecting the vacuum advance to non ported vacuum outlet, but the instructions from MSD specifically state to use a ported vacuum outlet above the throttle plate? Also a good starting point as far as number of turns on the advance would also be very helpful. I dont want to ruin anything.

As always thank you for your input

hchad18 · 12-01-2009, 07:49 PM

Use the ported vacuum. Mark where old rotor points at on the distributor and put the new distributor in the exact same way. That should be a good start and then put a timing light on it.

1968SWBBigBlock · 12-01-2009, 09:25 PM

leave the advance alone for now - it is preset at the factory and should be pretty close to that you need out of the box
make sure that you use the gasket
I like to use a dist lock down that uses a stud rather than a bolt - just seems to work better
I also like to use some assembly lube on the gears before installing the dist

unclewatts · 12-01-2009, 11:13 PM

As stated above use ported vacuum. I just installed a MSD Streetfire model 8362 and I set the initial timing at 16 deg. This is on a 350 with a Rochester Q-jet and RV-1 cam. Works Great! Starts easier and really jumps when you floor it. Got it from Summit.

rennalds · 12-01-2009, 11:17 PM

Did you guys gap your plugs to .40?, and also why 16 degrees will that work for a stock 350?

hchad18 · 12-02-2009, 08:27 AM

Stock is usually set at 8 in manuals, but I see 10 to 12 recommended all the time.

1968SWBBigBlock · 12-02-2009, 11:33 AM

Yes I would gap your plugs at .040 - .045

unclewatts · 12-03-2009, 03:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rennalds

Did you guys gap your plugs to .40?, and also why 16 degrees will that work for a stock 350?

The guy I took it to tried several different positions including 8 deg. It didn't seem to wake up until he tried 16deg. Go figure.

hchad18 · 12-03-2009, 07:35 PM

Nothing wrong with 16 degrees initial as long as it doesn't give you any problems. To much advance can cause run on, labor cranking, pinging. If you have no issues 16 degrees is fine. I read somewhere that the more duration the camshaft has the more initial advance to start at. Cant remember where I read it though.

12-01-2009, 07:34 PM	#1
rennalds Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: vacaville california Posts: 109	MSD Street Fire About to install a MSD street fire HEI Distrib on a 350. Anyone have any tips? Everything I have read around these forums suggests connecting the vacuum advance to non ported vacuum outlet, but the instructions from MSD specifically state to use a ported vacuum outlet above the throttle plate? Also a good starting point as far as number of turns on the advance would also be very helpful. I dont want to ruin anything. As always thank you for your input

12-01-2009, 07:49 PM	#2
hchad18 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: AZ Posts: 372	Re: MSD Street Fire Use the ported vacuum. Mark where old rotor points at on the distributor and put the new distributor in the exact same way. That should be a good start and then put a timing light on it.

12-01-2009, 09:25 PM	#3
1968SWBBigBlock Active Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,643	Re: MSD Street Fire leave the advance alone for now - it is preset at the factory and should be pretty close to that you need out of the box make sure that you use the gasket I like to use a dist lock down that uses a stud rather than a bolt - just seems to work better I also like to use some assembly lube on the gears before installing the dist __________________ 1968 SWB 454 + .040, 490HP x 540 FT pounds of Torque 10-1 Kb Forged pistons, recon rods w/ ARP wave loc bolts 781 heads Ported with 2.19/1.88 SSTvalves Lunati 60204 cam, Micro Trol lifters, Ported Edelbrock Performer Rpm manifold armor coated, Pertronix Triple Strike Ignition Holley 770 Street Avenger carb,Headers armor coated Built by Watson Ruppel Performance in Sarahsville Ohio. Hardshift Tranny Built Turbo 350,TSI 10" 3000 stall 12 Bolt Eaton Posi 4.10 Richmond Gears moser axles 18.5" x 31" Hoosier Pro Street Radials ET Classic 5 Wheels - polished Power Steering, Power Brakes,Disc Brakes,Tach & Gauge Dash, Tilt,Factory Air (gone) Custom Paint & Body Work Special thanks to my wife, my son and my money tree

12-01-2009, 11:13 PM	#4
unclewatts 70 Chevrolet=Obsession Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: nice ca Posts: 1,067	Re: MSD Street Fire As stated above use ported vacuum. I just installed a MSD Streetfire model 8362 and I set the initial timing at 16 deg. This is on a 350 with a Rochester Q-jet and RV-1 cam. Works Great! Starts easier and really jumps when you floor it. Got it from Summit. __________________ I'm Just like my truck. Old, Ugly and Grouchy. Except my truck starts easily in the morning and doesn't smoke! IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN! -Kermit the frog 1970 Chevrolet C-10 Longbed Stepside : 350, Muncie M20, 3.08 GM corp. positraction Forest green exterior/light green interior(Where all my money goes) 1996 Toyota Corolla (Parts runner)

12-01-2009, 11:17 PM	#5
rennalds Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: vacaville california Posts: 109	Re: MSD Street Fire Did you guys gap your plugs to .40?, and also why 16 degrees will that work for a stock 350?

12-02-2009, 08:27 AM	#6
hchad18 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: AZ Posts: 372	Re: MSD Street Fire Stock is usually set at 8 in manuals, but I see 10 to 12 recommended all the time.

12-02-2009, 11:33 AM	#7
1968SWBBigBlock Active Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,643	Re: MSD Street Fire Yes I would gap your plugs at .040 - .045 __________________ 1968 SWB 454 + .040, 490HP x 540 FT pounds of Torque 10-1 Kb Forged pistons, recon rods w/ ARP wave loc bolts 781 heads Ported with 2.19/1.88 SSTvalves Lunati 60204 cam, Micro Trol lifters, Ported Edelbrock Performer Rpm manifold armor coated, Pertronix Triple Strike Ignition Holley 770 Street Avenger carb,Headers armor coated Built by Watson Ruppel Performance in Sarahsville Ohio. Hardshift Tranny Built Turbo 350,TSI 10" 3000 stall 12 Bolt Eaton Posi 4.10 Richmond Gears moser axles 18.5" x 31" Hoosier Pro Street Radials ET Classic 5 Wheels - polished Power Steering, Power Brakes,Disc Brakes,Tach & Gauge Dash, Tilt,Factory Air (gone) Custom Paint & Body Work Special thanks to my wife, my son and my money tree

12-03-2009, 07:35 PM	#9
hchad18 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: AZ Posts: 372	Re: MSD Street Fire Nothing wrong with 16 degrees initial as long as it doesn't give you any problems. To much advance can cause run on, labor cranking, pinging. If you have no issues 16 degrees is fine. I read somewhere that the more duration the camshaft has the more initial advance to start at. Cant remember where I read it though. Last edited by hchad18; 12-03-2009 at 07:39 PM.

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