EFI and electronic timing questions
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,679
Likes: 6
From: Charles Town WV
EFI and electronic timing questions
Hey guys, it's been a long time, but I'm actually going to get my beast running again.
I called Edelbrock yesterday and found out they are coming out with a proflo2 efi system that will be compatible with rectangle port BBC heads. According to the tech guys, the ign unit that connects to the timing will not work with my MSD distributor (mech tach drive). I love my MSD, but would love to have electronic timing even more.
Their suggestion was to use a Mallory distributor, but I've seen those crap out after not much usage, so I'm not to keen on switching to one of those.
How does this sound? I could get a stock points distributor without a tach drive, put the ignition module in that distributor, and convert my tach to electronic by using a 74 tach and replace the faceplate with the one off of my 69. Has anyone done that?
I don't fully understand how the electronic timing works, does it move the vacuum advance plate to modify the curve based on input from the ECM, or was the tech guy confusing this with electronic ignition? The way he described it, it sounded like the computer for the EFI did all of the timing control and setting it manually (other than initial) was not necessary.
I need to do some more reading on this, but I thought I'd ask for experiences here first.
I called Edelbrock yesterday and found out they are coming out with a proflo2 efi system that will be compatible with rectangle port BBC heads. According to the tech guys, the ign unit that connects to the timing will not work with my MSD distributor (mech tach drive). I love my MSD, but would love to have electronic timing even more.
Their suggestion was to use a Mallory distributor, but I've seen those crap out after not much usage, so I'm not to keen on switching to one of those.
How does this sound? I could get a stock points distributor without a tach drive, put the ignition module in that distributor, and convert my tach to electronic by using a 74 tach and replace the faceplate with the one off of my 69. Has anyone done that?
I don't fully understand how the electronic timing works, does it move the vacuum advance plate to modify the curve based on input from the ECM, or was the tech guy confusing this with electronic ignition? The way he described it, it sounded like the computer for the EFI did all of the timing control and setting it manually (other than initial) was not necessary.
I need to do some more reading on this, but I thought I'd ask for experiences here first.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,100
Likes: 12
From: Frederick Maryland
I have Edelbrock Pro-Flo RPM in my '70 Avanti with a GM Performance 350 HO crate engine. I also have the Mallory distributor made specifically for the Edelbrock EFI. It's not the Unilite, which is the Mallory distributor that blows out from voltage spikes, so don't worry about using it. The EFI distributor is a Hall effect design. My understanding is that it's the only distributor with elctronic timing compatible with the Pro-Flo. Other electronic distributors can work, but won't have that feature.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,679
Likes: 6
From: Charles Town WV
I have Edelbrock Pro-Flo RPM in my '70 Avanti with a GM Performance 350 HO crate engine. I also have the Mallory distributor made specifically for the Edelbrock EFI. It's not the Unilite, which is the Mallory distributor that blows out from voltage spikes, so don't worry about using it. The EFI distributor is a Hall effect design. My understanding is that it's the only distributor with elctronic timing compatible with the Pro-Flo. Other electronic distributors can work, but won't have that feature.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,100
Likes: 12
From: Frederick Maryland
There's no vacuum advance installed. It's all electronic. I believe there's also a knock sensor installed to adjust the timing on the fly.
The system works really well...I'm quite happy with it.
BTW - you're in Charles Town...I'm close by in Frederick. My Dad grew up in Charles Town.
The system works really well...I'm quite happy with it.
BTW - you're in Charles Town...I'm close by in Frederick. My Dad grew up in Charles Town.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,679
Likes: 6
From: Charles Town WV
There's no vacuum advance installed. It's all electronic. I believe there's also a knock sensor installed to adjust the timing on the fly.
The system works really well...I'm quite happy with it.
BTW - you're in Charles Town...I'm close by in Frederick. My Dad grew up in Charles Town.
The system works really well...I'm quite happy with it.
BTW - you're in Charles Town...I'm close by in Frederick. My Dad grew up in Charles Town.
