Identification of distributor.

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Skeeter007

Skeeter007
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I just bought this distributer for my 440 build thats in the works. I was told by the seller that it was a performance piece. I paid 60.00 Canadian for it. May not be worth it or it may. He had it on for 125.00 with the two boxes. I have a MSD box that I hope will plug into it. Now does anyone know or has seen this type? I know there must be hundreds of styles. Just wanting to know what I have here. There are two serial numbers on the unit. I also bought a M1 single plain manifold for a 100.00 Canadian as well. Hoping I got a good deal on both pieces.

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Actually, that only tells you what the TAG number is. Those tags unscrew, and can and have been. I'm not saying that one has been. It does not tell you what the advance curve is that's "in" the distributor which is far more important. Look down inside the dist and see if it has adjustable advance
 

The only adjustment I have seen on these is the allen head inside the vacuum port. To change the mechanical curve there are a few different tricks I have heard of, the easiest being to swap springs and/or weights, I have heard of some guys going so far as to fill the end of the slots that limit the travel of the mechanical advance with a spot weld and then grind it back to where they want it. The main thing I would check for is to be sure it's not a "lean burn" distributor, they don't have any mechanical advance built into them. It sounds like you got a good buy all the way around though, the M1 manifold isn't cheap. I would stick with the MSD box. If that is in fact the original tag on the distributor and the guts haven't been changed it will probably do fine the way it is.
 
That is to say I personally have not seen the Mopar "Performance" distributor, they may have done something different, but I have seen the guts in a crap ton of OEM Dodge distributors and bought the Summit knock off of the MP distributor, and the guts have all been layed out the same except the "lean burn" unit.
 
Actually, that only tells you what the TAG number is. Those tags unscrew, and can and have been. I'm not saying that one has been. It does not tell you what the advance curve is that's "in" the distributor which is far more important. Look down inside the dist and see if it has adjustable advance

Yep. Check out inside and see if the advance is adjustable.
 
Yep. That should run 'er. I see springs and weights. The "adjustable timing advance" that I have always seen on them is in the vacuum diaphragm. Before you install it I recommend checking the gap at the magnetic sensor, I don't remember the spec off the top of my head but I think it should be around .008" or .012", someone on here will know for sure. If you have an adjustable advance timing light and a good tach you should be able to see what the curve looks like, but I bet it will be fine as-is. From what I have always been told (2nd hand info here) the 440's usually like about 35-38 degrees total advance (depending on your build) with it all in by about 2500-2800 RPM. I usually just try to find a starting point where the engine runs nice and smooth, advance the timing until it just starts to ping under load and back it off a hair.
 
Yep. That should run 'er. I see springs and weights. The "adjustable timing advance" that I have always seen on them is in the vacuum diaphragm. Before you install it I recommend checking the gap at the magnetic sensor, I don't remember the spec off the top of my head but I think it should be around .008" or .012", someone on here will know for sure. If you have an adjustable advance timing light and a good tach you should be able to see what the curve looks like, but I bet it will be fine as-is. From what I have always been told (2nd hand info here) the 440's usually like about 35-38 degrees total advance (depending on your build) with it all in by about 2500-2800 RPM. I usually just try to find a starting point where the engine runs nice and smooth, advance the timing until it just starts to ping under load and back it off a hair.

That is an adjustable vacuum advance, Mopar Performance dizzys got both mechanical andvacuum aadvance being adjustable.

Idk enough about dizzys to realy identify one, but to me that looks like a bone stock dizzy and someone took you for a ride.
 
You're just full of bad news. Well I paid 60.00 Canadian and that works out to about 1.24 US and it has to be better than the one on my 78, well it's cleaner anyway. So I'll use it..... No "Thanks" for you lol


That is an adjustable vacuum advance, Mopar Performance dizzys got both mechanical andvacuum aadvance being adjustable.

Idk enough about dizzys to realy identify one, but to me that looks like a bone stock dizzy and someone took you for a ride.
 
Will someone please post a pic of the adjustable mechanical advance MP distributor, showing where it actually adjusts? I KNOW someone on here has one, and now I gotsta know.

If it does in fact exist. I always thought the benefit to the MP dizzy was the performance curve built into it.
 
Will someone please post a pic of the adjustable mechanical advance MP distributor, showing where it actually adjusts? I KNOW someone on here has one, and now I gotsta know.

If it does in fact exist. I always thought the benefit to the MP dizzy was the performance curve built into it.


These are based on the Mallory distributor advance, here:

Some of the later models are built different externally

http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=67882

If you look down into them through the holes in the advance plate you can see the screws to change the advance

Some guys say that this design gives trouble............that the short throw of the design makes the weights unstable at RPM or some such. I don't know, one way or 't other.
 
These are based on the Mallory distributor advance, here:

Some of the later models are built different externally

http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=67882

If you look down into them through the holes in the advance plate you can see the screws to change the advance

Some guys say that this design gives trouble............that the short throw of the design makes the weights unstable at RPM or some such. I don't know, one way or 't other.

Thank you for setting me straight, that's badass. I will have to look and see if my Summit brand dizzy is also set up that way.
 
FYI, for anyone looking, the Summit brand Dizzy does NOT have the adjustment for mechanical advance.
 
If it was made before 2000 it is the Chrysler MP distributor and is the best. The Mechanical advance is about 25 degrees and is not adjustable. The vacuum advance is adjustable and the advance arm should be stamped 8 L. You have to take the distributor apart to read the stamping on the mechanical advance plate. It is easier to throw it in and check it with a timing light. Good score if it is original. Also make sure both the advance springs are present and accounted for. Look through one of the gaps and turn the shaft. Use the Chrome box.
 
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