318LA driver, mopar built Electronic distributor. anyone better than others ?

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rustytoolss

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Looking for a part # for a Chrysler electronic distributor (no after markets) for my 318 LA , mostly stock, small cam/ 4 brl street driven cruiser. Where any part numbers better for performance/mileage. Was thinking of getting one from rockauto (they list OEM part numbers).
Did the 340/360 electronic distributors have better advance curves/weights/vacuum advance canisters ?
Or were all of the electronic distributors all about the same?
 
Earlier the better and high performance the better. You can look the specs up in the back of the factory manuals. Having said that, a typical parts store "rebuilt" is anybody's guess. On the other hand you can recurve them, and FBO has a recurve / limiter kit

How to limit mechanical advance in a mopar distributor, tuning for street, strip or all out racing, cure that rich stinky idle, win races

Many of the mechanical mechanisms are stamped as to advance. Remember tho, this is DISTRIBUTOR degrees, you multiply that figure x2 to get crank degrees

Start with the 72 Plymouth shop manual from MyMopar page 8-139

electronicDIST.jpg
 
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The aftermarket doesn't give two craps. You'll have to tune it yourself, and this is a worthwhile endeavor.
If you get one, first thing to do is stick an Allen wrench in the advance canister and make sure it's adjustable. Some aftermarket units lock this out but you NEED to adjust it
 
Thanks guys way to many variables here shoot me a message. Do agree with the above the parts stores are made to fit in at least a ten year spread, The stock MP are usually fast to full advance ……..
 
The aftermarket doesn't give two craps. You'll have to tune it yourself, and this is a worthwhile endeavor.
If you get one, first thing to do is stick an Allen wrench in the advance canister and make sure it's adjustable. Some aftermarket units lock this out but you NEED to adjust it


I don't understand your statement. Of course you have to adjust aftermarket ones, at least they are adjustable. None of the OEM ones are optimum, by the time breakerless came about, ALL of them had smog curves.

Only breakerless that don't are the MP ones which can be considered "aftermarket."
 
Not sure if Trailbeast still sells recurved (faster advance) distributors but I bought one from him a few years ago when I did my 4bbl upgrade and am happy with it.
 
According to Ehrenberg the ones to avoid are MP distributors made from 2000 to 2011, during that time they subbed the work out to Accel who redesigned a good thing and ruined it. From the pictures in the story, they are identifiable by the gold colored center shaft and innards, which are completely different from the old MP and later MP dizzys. (see current issue of Mopar Action - December 2020). evidently the spark scatter on the Accel distributors is out of hand...
 
Auto parts stores do not sell year/model specific part numbers. Normal street driving you are unlikely to notice little if any difference. Oem units worked fine for many years with very little maintenance or problems. You can get good distributors from Mancini, or really Mopar parts supplier for little money. Don't need anything trick for a street car. Good wiring, good grounds, good cap, rotor, wires, plugs. good coil. When you start going for " high performance" stuff and veer from stock you start to chase your tail. I doubt you are very interested in your 60 foot times...
 
Auto parts stores do not sell year/model specific part numbers. Normal street driving you are unlikely to notice little if any difference. Oem units worked fine for many years with very little maintenance or problems. You can get good distributors from Mancini, or really Mopar parts supplier for little money. Don't need anything trick for a street car. Good wiring, good grounds, good cap, rotor, wires, plugs. good coil. When you start going for " high performance" stuff and veer from stock you start to chase your tail. I doubt you are very interested in your 60 foot times...
No 60ft times for me these days, that was long ago. Your reply makes sense to me/ sound like a plan.
 
I don't understand your statement. Of course you have to adjust aftermarket ones, at least they are adjustable. None of the OEM ones are optimum, by the time breakerless came about, ALL of them had smog curves.

Only breakerless that don't are the MP ones which can be considered "aftermarket."

I'm saying that the adjustment in the vacuum advance canister is locked out on some of the aftermarket/OEM replacement distributors. On factory distributors, you adjusted the vacuum advance rate in this way
vacuum.jpg
 
I'm saying that the adjustment in the vacuum advance canister is locked out on some of the aftermarket/OEM replacement distributors. On factory distributors, you adjusted the vacuum advance rate in this way
View attachment 1715624647

Ah I thought you were talking about mechanical. Non-adjustable parts store vacuum cans started a LONG time ago LOL
 
What about using the "old" mopar performance electronic distributor 3690430 (small block), for a street driven daily cruiser ? Might know of one that I may be able to get...maybe ??
 
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According to Ehrenberg the ones to avoid are MP distributors made from 2000 to 2011, during that time they subbed the work out to Accel who redesigned a good thing and ruined it. From the pictures in the story, they are identifiable by the gold colored center shaft and innards, which are completely different from the old MP and later MP dizzys. (see current issue of Mopar Action - December 2020). evidently the spark scatter on the Accel distributors is out of hand...
They are the better ones basically a mallory adjustable mechanical advance. As for the rest of the MP ones they go full mech advance in a hurry, great for the track though.
 
They are the better ones basically a mallory adjustable mechanical advance. As for the rest of the MP ones they go full mech advance in a hurry, great for the track though.
OK, I did get one from a buddy. Can I put stronger springs in it , to slow down the fast advance ?
 
I'm following the thread and making popcorn! Very interesting. I have at least a couple of those "bad" MP distributors in my 4 Mopars. I'd better check out that mechanical advance rate.
 
I'm following the thread and making popcorn! Very interesting. I have at least a couple of those "bad" MP distributors in my 4 Mopars. I'd better check out that mechanical advance rate.
What is the distributor tag number on the "bad MP distributors" ? They have a gold/copper center shaft right ?
 
OK, I did get one from a buddy. Can I put stronger springs in it , to slow down the fast advance ?
Yes can if you can find them, might take a while to get the curve right though. Every engine is different. You have to figure out what you want and then tailor it to that.
 
What is the distributor tag number on the "bad MP distributors" ? They have a gold/copper center shaft right ?
They are not BAD per say they are just a reg Mopar distributors with a fast Mechanical curve.
 
They are the better ones basically a mallory adjustable mechanical advance. As for the rest of the MP ones they go full mech advance in a hurry, great for the track though.

But they are also great for stock, low compression engines that need that hot ignition curve to pep them up. They can work wonders.
 
Yes they can but the OP is looking for a good all around Mr President. I think @Mattax has the MP charts scanned.
 
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