Distributor help - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

76bonanza · 12-14-2003, 08:24 PM

Looking to do somthing in the dustributer area.

I have a daily driver that I hope to soup up a little it is 4x4.
I want smooth starting nice idle and maybe a little more throttle response. Gas mileage help would not hurt.

I dont like getting junk yard parts and dont want to over spend but by the same token will spend to get good performance.

So should I just rebuild? buy new dis.? or dis. and spark box?

Any other than msd products that are good?

Let me know what you all think.

Thanks

**swervin ervin** · 12-14-2003, 08:33 PM

Well, it all goes back to what you are willing to spend. IMO, there is none better than MSD. I have the Pro Billet HEI and a 6AL kit to go with it. I wouldn't even consider having any other kind.

GM HEI's are good distributors. But most of the junkyard stuff is worn out and need rebuilding. By the time you get though buying stuff for them to make them a good quality part, you will have quite a bit in them. You could buy a new GM unit for decent money though.

For a stock engine, MSD stuff is not needed but it sure is pretty sitting back there.

gldevall · 12-14-2003, 09:55 PM

I have the proform distributor, $149 from Jegs or Summit. I have had no problems with it....so far, been running it about 8 months.

78chevstepside · 12-15-2003, 12:01 AM

when i converted my 78 from a 6 cylinder to a V-8. I bought a new hei from a parts store. It costed about 150 dollars(i have seen advertized for 99). Plus all the hardware coil , cap. It worked well for a while but it gave me problems. a gear inside the distributor would jump up and move a few teeth. Then go back down. This would change the timing of my truck. My truck would just die out on the road. Then wouldnt start. Then all of a sudden the gear would jump again. then bingo it would run fine for a while then repete. well it took for ever to fix. I changed the timing chain (it was fine ) I changed coils on and on. Well i pulled the distributor and took to a friend of mind and he found the problem just by chance. i exchanged the distributor and havent had a problem since. I recomend new parts . i would compare prices from stock to a performance unit. For a mild performance motor a stock hei distributor is plenty good.

Mike76251 · 12-15-2003, 03:34 AM

Tell you how good the MSD stuff really is:
I have been trying to buy a certain MSD distrib. on eBay and this unit sells new for $200.
I have been outbid 10 times on 10 different distribs when I place bids............even at $175!!!!!!!!!
This means they are good stuff indeed.

12-14-2003, 08:24 PM	#1
76bonanza Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: St robert Mo Posts: 2,001	Distributor help Looking to do somthing in the dustributer area. I have a daily driver that I hope to soup up a little it is 4x4. I want smooth starting nice idle and maybe a little more throttle response. Gas mileage help would not hurt. I dont like getting junk yard parts and dont want to over spend but by the same token will spend to get good performance. So should I just rebuild? buy new dis.? or dis. and spark box? Any other than msd products that are good? Let me know what you all think. Thanks __________________ 1968 c10 lowered 3" 4" 355/Th400 built by Hatfield racing in joplin MO

12-14-2003, 08:33 PM	#2
swervin ervin You get what you pay for Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Cherryville, NC Posts: 4,798	Well, it all goes back to what you are willing to spend. IMO, there is none better than MSD. I have the Pro Billet HEI and a 6AL kit to go with it. I wouldn't even consider having any other kind. GM HEI's are good distributors. But most of the junkyard stuff is worn out and need rebuilding. By the time you get though buying stuff for them to make them a good quality part, you will have quite a bit in them. You could buy a new GM unit for decent money though. For a stock engine, MSD stuff is not needed but it sure is pretty sitting back there. __________________ Mike 1985 Chevy C-10

12-14-2003, 09:55 PM	#3
gldevall Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Walker, LA Posts: 2,925	I have the proform distributor, $149 from Jegs or Summit. I have had no problems with it....so far, been running it about 8 months. __________________ Gary -1986 SWB: lowered 4/6, SOLD!!! -Best 1/4 mile: 14.51 @ 91.01 MPH -2001 Pewter Tahoe, billet grill, Corsa Sport Cat-back, K&N FIPK SOLD!!! -2004 Z-71 Extended cab with a flowmaster, BDS 6.5", 3" BL, 35x12.5x18 Trail Grapplers on Pro-Comp 18x9 wheels

12-15-2003, 12:01 AM	#4
78chevstepside Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: lacenter, washington Posts: 718	when i converted my 78 from a 6 cylinder to a V-8. I bought a new hei from a parts store. It costed about 150 dollars(i have seen advertized for 99). Plus all the hardware coil , cap. It worked well for a while but it gave me problems. a gear inside the distributor would jump up and move a few teeth. Then go back down. This would change the timing of my truck. My truck would just die out on the road. Then wouldnt start. Then all of a sudden the gear would jump again. then bingo it would run fine for a while then repete. well it took for ever to fix. I changed the timing chain (it was fine ) I changed coils on and on. Well i pulled the distributor and took to a friend of mind and he found the problem just by chance. i exchanged the distributor and havent had a problem since. I recomend new parts . i would compare prices from stock to a performance unit. For a mild performance motor a stock hei distributor is plenty good.

12-15-2003, 03:34 AM	#5
Mike76251 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,499	Tell you how good the MSD stuff really is: I have been trying to buy a certain MSD distrib. on eBay and this unit sells new for $200. I have been outbid 10 times on 10 different distribs when I place bids............even at $175!!!!!!!!! This means they are good stuff indeed.



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