MSD Distributor.

[Harry/FDK]

Good Day/Evening, i'm thinking of buying an MSD distributor and hook it up to my Crane Box. Which (advance-curve) springs should i use to begin with. Any other recommendations ?  THANKS. (BTW, for now its still a 78 x 94 street driven car).

[BeetleBug]

I`m using the heavy weights with one light, grey spring + one heavy, grey spring. It comes original with the heavy weights installed and two light, grey springs if I remember correctly.

Best rgs
BeetleBug

[Harry/FDK]

Thanks man, that will help a lot. Maybe i can bother you in the future about jetting a pair of IDA's (?)

[BeetleBug]

Thanks man, that will help a lot. Maybe i can bother you in the future about jetting a pair of IDA's (?)

 

Of course you can, helping out is not bothering me at all!

[Harry/FDK]

Something went wrong, guess Europe is on the site. Thank you BeetleBug, people like you will get me lay the level higher for both never ending Projects. Have a good evening.

[Harry/FDK]

BeetleBugInfo

[BeetleBug]

 

Looking good! Got to love blue beetles   

[Jon]

And Ghias! 

[BeetleBug]

And Ghias! 

 

[Harry/FDK]

Hi BeetleBug, i did just that. Removed one heavy spring and exchanged it for a light silver spring. (checking the MSD manual that came with it). Did you change the Advance-Stopping-Bushing also ? Or did you start with the (installed) blue bushing. Thanks.

[Steve D.]

What do you have for a cam and compression?  This makes a big difference.  Assuming you have something along the lines of 9.5 with an FK8, you should start off with one light silver spring and one light blue spring.  Run the blue stop so you can dial in more advance at idle and still stay in around 30-32 degrees full advance.  The more advance you can stuff in at idle the better it will run.  Also, the quicker you can bring in the advance (WITHOUT PINGING) the better it will run.  As you bring in advance quicker and earlier, you will free up a lot of low end torque.

[Harry/FDK]

Thanks Steve, Just for your thoughts: Webcam #218, Valve Lift: .455, Duration: 280, Lobe centre: 108. Compression: 8,7 : 1.
Tall gearing: 4.12 Ring/Pinion, Fourth gear 0.82. (Car is used 99% on street). Hope you give youre opinion again, I reallly appreciate this. Best Regards.

[Harry/FDK]

Hi Steve, (again) hope you read this.

[Steve D.]

That's a pretty small cam, so you should start off conservative.  Set it up with the blue/blue spring and blue stop with 30 degrees full advance and drive it around.  If all is well, you can start creeping up and adding advance to the motor either by switching out one of the blue springs with a light silver spring, or by changing the stop to the black and re-timing the motor to keep you at your 30 degrees full advance, but now with more timing at idle.  If the motor starts pinging, slow the advance down with heavier springs or use a smaller stop to take away advance at idle.  These bits are pretty easy to change, and there is no way to know how it is going to run without just doing it- go out, make some changes, and see what works the best for you.  Let us know what you end up with!

[Harry/FDK]

Thanks Steve!!! Going conservative and will keep you guys posted. (might take a while) My problem is the tall gearing and driving around town with low rpm's to keep the cops off my back. Again thanks.

[Sander/DVK]

Hi guys,

What and where can I find the starting position on the distributor?
I cant find a marking like the 009.

Thanks,
Sander

[GreenTom]

as I remember there isn't any point on MSD or Pertronix disy like on 009 etc...
I think you have to use strobo lamp... to set it properly. I've got 009 so I dont have any problems

[Harry/FDK]

OK, got one silver, one blue spring and the standard bushing for now. All is well, i will messing around some more and keep you posted. (thanks Steve D. and Jim Ratto for getting me there)

[Harry/FDK]

Sander, you don't need a "point". Install it the first time, and make youre own mark on the cap or body. 

[Sander/DVK]

We allready figure it out Harry, thanks