my 347 short block is assembled so I need to figure out some details quick.
My current 302 has a regular ole distributor with a Pertornix I module with a Flame Thrower coil, 7mm wires and Autolite copper plugs. It's always worked great.
My engine builder suggested a new MSD dizzy and 6AL (?) MSD box for the 347.
Just wanted you guys opinions on it all.
He says a bronze dizzy gear is no longer necessary on the Comp roller cams too.. It's his custom grind on a Comp cam. He says that info cam from Comp.
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Ford True Blue paint, 17X8 Edelbrock 454 wheels, waiting to install... 91 roller 347, AFR 185 heads / AOD/2,800 rpm stall / 8.8 rear with 373 gears / 4 wheel disc brakes. / Xpipe, Dynomax Ultraflows . More pictures here-->http://forums.vintage-mustang.com/vi...-few-pics.html
an MSD distributor is easy to make adjustments in terms of limiting the amount of mechanical advance as well as controlling the rate of advance as compared to a factory distributor.
If its a 1050 core cam, which most OTS cams are, a steel gear is fine. If you happen to get an 8620 core cam, it will still require a bronze gear. Be sure to verify what you have from the manufacturer, and make no assumptions.
when I changed to an msd ready-to-run distributor the following changes occurred:
1) car was easier starting
2) better gas mileage, + 3 mpg.
3) easier to tune when I made other changes ( added vintage Paxton, changed carbs. etc)
several years later I added a msd box, the digital 6, which I would recommend over the 6AL box. The addition of the box yielded:
1) wayyyy easier starting in hot weather. The digital 6+ box has a 20 degree start retard feature. It is incredible how much faster the engine spins with that much ignition retard for starting, maybe 2 or 3 times faster.
2) Hotter spark, or multiple sparks maybe, whatever the cause, now the engine was burning fuel more completely. The rpm at idle picked up considerably.
3) gained another +4 mpg, for a total of 7 mpg over the stock ignition system (Both systems were mechanical advance only). With a vacuum advance distributor, there should be even better results.
The above results were overshadowed by the great reliability of the msd products. In comparison my experiences were Pertronix were disappointing. Obviously, others have not had the same failure rate that I did with Pertronix (two units, a I and a II). I used them on two different cars, both failed within six months.
".....so I can get a ready to run distributor with vaccum advance and use it with my flame thrower coil, and add a ignition box later on instead of the coil ........"
whatever coil you have that will work with the ready to run, will also work with the box. Adding an msd box does not eliminate the coil. But there are msd coils that are better suited to the msd boxes than the Flamethrower coil.
also you might consider getting a black dist cap from msd as well. They look better on Fords than the red cap that they ship with.
I played the safe route, went with a composite gear. Little more money, but a little more peace of mind. I mean a cam with stripped cam gears doesn't do you much good and I don't want to have to tear it back down again b/c I didn't spend an extra $50.
When you order, be sure to get the right diameter...more than one size shaft.
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1968 Fastback: 331 stroker, FTI cam, N351 Heads with a few upgrades, 4r70w w/3600 stall, 9" locker w/3.70 gears
how does the MSD box control the amount of timing if the distributer has a vaccum advance ?
do the MSD distributers have to be recurved to get them dialed in or tuned perfectly or is that done with the MSD box ?
I'm going to get ignition parts for my 347 for Christmas. My engine builder quoted me the following for MSD parts:
$479 for wires, blaster coil and distributer
$219 for digital 6 box.
after I get the right parts together I'm taking the engine to an engine dyno for engine break in and tuning so I can put it in. I want it to be fully tunable for the tuner and not leave any power and driveability on the table.
how necessary is the MSD box ? are they reliable I have heard of them crapping out recently leaving people stranded. If that happens can you not just drive with the MSD box unplugged ?
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Ford True Blue paint, 17X8 Edelbrock 454 wheels, waiting to install... 91 roller 347, AFR 185 heads / AOD/2,800 rpm stall / 8.8 rear with 373 gears / 4 wheel disc brakes. / Xpipe, Dynomax Ultraflows . More pictures here-->http://forums.vintage-mustang.com/vi...-few-pics.html
how does the MSD box control the amount of timing if the distributer has a vacuum advance ?
do the MSD distributers have to be recurved to get them dialed in or tuned perfectly or is that done with the MSD box ?
I'm going to get ignition parts for my 347 for Christmas. My engine builder quoted me the following for MSD parts:
$479 for wires, blaster coil and distributer
$219 for digital 6 box.
after I get the right parts together I'm taking the engine to an engine dyno for engine break in and tuning so I can put it in. I want it to be fully tunable for the tuner and not leave any power and drivability on the table.
how necessary is the MSD box ? are they reliable I have heard of them crapping out recently leaving people stranded. If that happens can you not just drive with the MSD box unplugged ?
call msd tech to answer the first question. may take an engineering degree to explain and understand the answer.
the price for the digital 6+ box seems low. made sure it is new.
the msd dist. has more adjustability than you will need short of a NASCAR track car scenario.
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when is a MSD dizzy / box necessary ???
It's his custom grind on a Comp cam. He says that info cam from Comp.
