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.

[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

[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?

[Zach079xxx]

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

[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.

[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.

[RodsGreen10]

Originally Posted by 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.

I would find someone else.

[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.

[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.

[hatzie]

The moolie that let the magic smoke out of whatever part should never be allowed to touch your truck again.

Supposedly the ESC distributor was only used on the LE9 305. If your truck started life with either of the 350 engines or the LF3 305 it wasn't equipped with ESC. Big Cap ESC is easy to distinguish from a regular Big Cap HEI. With the cap off you'll see two sets of wires exiting on opposite sides of a big cap ESC distributor body. Three wires out one side are attached to the cap, just like a regular big cap HEI, and an extra Weatherpack or Metripack connector (ESC harness) attached to a harness running through the firewall. The ESC engines also have a spark knock sensor screwed into a block water jacket drain plug hole just above the oil pan rail. And last but not least. The ESC ignition module under the rotor has 7 electrical terminals instead of 4.

It's not rocket science to replace the HEI control module. They're nowhere near the cost of a whole reman unit. Usually right around $15 for the AC Delco module. Don't get me started on the Chinese floor sweepings you'll end up with if you buy a brand new distributor.
The HEI module amplifies the magnetic pickup signal to drive a power transistor that switches the coil ground on and off. The distributor body is a heatsink for the transistor... this is why the new module will come with a tube of heatsink grease. Be sure to use it.
The only reason it might fry again is if the harness attaching it to the coil is loose either at the module or at the cap connection.
The original AC Delco modules and coil worked quite well up to some fairly obnoxious RPMs. Unless you intend to drive with the RPMs in the stratosphere for extended lengths of time the stock replacement AC Delco module is the best bang for your buck and the most reliable. The recovery time on the coil was the limiting factor. Modern coils are capable of 7500RPM plus with the stock module. You'll start to see mechanical problems at that speed so the coil is no longer the limiting factor.

As long as the shaft doesn't have a bunch of play side to side and the advance plate isn't flopping around like a wet noodle the distributor you have will work just fine with some inexpensive TLC.

You can replace the advance counterweights, plastic counterweight pivot bushings, and springs if they are too loose. If the distributor needs to be re-curved you'll be replacing them with a new weight and spring set anyway because that's part of how you re-curve the advance. The Vacuum can should be tested to make sure she doesn't leak... If you are keeping it... or just install the new can for your new advance curve.

Hot-Rod Car-Craft HEI Ignition Module Testing
Read this article as well...
Crankshaft Coalition Hot-Rodding_the_HEI_distributor

Rebuilding a big cap HEI

[Zach079xxx]

My plan is to have the shop install it BUT have someone with brains install it. Once the man I deal with is back in going to run it by and get an A-ok from him that it's right. He built my transmission and engine all in the last 3-4 months. 900 for a 350 turbo rebuild and 2500 for my engine. 1000 labor the rest was parts. I think that was fair, he's a really down to earth guy. Works alone, has no lift; only jack stands and creepers! Just a case of bad timing I guess, but Larry will help me and make sure it's right. The mechanic who fried it did it right in front of the owner, he was holding the timing light.. He turned the distributor over 1/2 turn maybe even 3/4, I thought he was spinning that sucker 360 degrees then poof.

[68c10owner]

Originally Posted by RodsGreen10

I would find someone else.

And make the guy who burned it up pay for it too.

[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.