{...survival of the fittest...}
Tach Drive Distributor
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 640
Likes: 0
From: North Texas
Tach Drive Distributor
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 492
Likes: 3
From: Temecula CA
Yep. I've had mine in for about a year with no issues. Install was very simple. I ran a heavy gauge wire (maybe 10 or 12 gauge) to a switched 12v source on the fuse block. Don't use the same power source as the old coil, as it has a resistor wire on it to reduce the voltage to the coil. After I set the initial timing, the vacuum and centrifugal advance were good right out of the box.
Temvette72
Temvette72
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,042
Likes: 1
From: Greensboro NC
Got mne in (the clear cap version) a couple weeks ago but haven't had time to install it yet.
Also bought a hi torque starter (which works great) and some new polished aluminum goodies. These guys don't mess around. Place your order and you'll get your stuff very fast.
Also bought a hi torque starter (which works great) and some new polished aluminum goodies. These guys don't mess around. Place your order and you'll get your stuff very fast.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
At that price, the question is not "Will it work?", it is "How long will it work?" There is no way anyone (even China) can manufacture, assemble, and ship that distributor for that price....unless, the metal in it is of poor quality and the bushings and moving parts within it are not processed and/or hardened properly. Good luck to those who have purchased one. It's only a matter of [not so distant] time until it fails. Either the main drive shaft will snap, the bushings will wear out, or the tach gears will fail. And, when it does, you will have to buy another distributor or rebuild that one...if you can find replacement parts that will fit.
If you want a good tach drive distributor, buy a used one and quality rebuild parts, for about the same money as the "knock-off" dizzy, and rebuild it to 'new stock' condition.
If you want a good tach drive distributor, buy a used one and quality rebuild parts, for about the same money as the "knock-off" dizzy, and rebuild it to 'new stock' condition.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 323
Likes: 4
From: McKinney Texas
I put in a Dragon Fire HEI distributor, mostly chronicled in the Post "HEI finally in". It runs great, and others on the forum have had good luck/history with it.
I thought the Dragon Fire distributor was a bargain on ebay for $119. Less than $80 for what looks like the same thing is a steal. The price is getting so low it is hard not to reflect on what 7T1 said.
I thought the Dragon Fire distributor was a bargain on ebay for $119. Less than $80 for what looks like the same thing is a steal. The price is getting so low it is hard not to reflect on what 7T1 said.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,284
Likes: 235
From: Rockledge FL
considering that many many people here have been using that one for a very long time. i think that you will be fine. not to mention that this is the first time anyone has ever had anything negative to say about it.
of course it wasnt personal experience negative. it was waste server space personal opinion negative
here is their actual website not just their ebay store
https://all-ignition.com/tach-drive.html
considering it has a lifetime warranty. i am going to take my chances like so many others have.
ps they are made in america just like the toyota tundra
of course it wasnt personal experience negative. it was waste server space personal opinion negative
here is their actual website not just their ebay store
https://all-ignition.com/tach-drive.html
considering it has a lifetime warranty. i am going to take my chances like so many others have.
ps they are made in america just like the toyota tundra
Last edited by baxsom; Nov 21, 2009 at 03:08 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
baxsom...
I haven't had experience with that specific "chinzy" piece of equipment and made no claim that I had. I have had several experiences with parts/products that were of the same 'ilk'. That experience says that "If it looks too good to be true, then it probably is too good to be true". And if you only want to hear one side of a discussion [note that I did not take issue with anyone in my post], why don't you just tape record yourself and listen to it...at least, I don't think there will be any arguments. As long as this Forum exists for open discussion, perhaps we should leave it that way.
I haven't had experience with that specific "chinzy" piece of equipment and made no claim that I had. I have had several experiences with parts/products that were of the same 'ilk'. That experience says that "If it looks too good to be true, then it probably is too good to be true". And if you only want to hear one side of a discussion [note that I did not take issue with anyone in my post], why don't you just tape record yourself and listen to it...at least, I don't think there will be any arguments. As long as this Forum exists for open discussion, perhaps we should leave it that way.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 865
Likes: 53
Tach drive
I bought a distributer like that from Star Performance . First one they sent had a red cap and blew up in a week . ( on the highway going 60 or so , no fun) They sent a replacement with a black cap , thats been working well 2,3 years . Just my experience .
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
Likes: 630
From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
Supply & demand. How many folks still want one who haven't already got one?
There's a finite tally of vettes w/ mech tach ... many already have td hei ... a large group will never give up points ... some td hei users will return to points. Yea, there's the rare ratrod or race guy who might want one but they're not significant either.
when I first noticed cheap china tdhei selling on fleabay some 5-6 yrs ago, the cheapest was around $300 and $300 seemed cheap at that time... they've steadily dropped & will continue to in the near term.
fyi ... about same time ... & back when margin was enough to make it worth my while, I sold dozens of td hei ... used to ... no more ... don't ask. Most I've seen are actually pretty good quality ... not like OE but right decent. Not a valid measure of quality so only anecdotal: not one guy has reported a td hei failure to me (my contact info hasn't changed throughout). However, for my money, I'd put a genuine GM gear on bottom & wash tach gears & lube w/ moly. G'luck
-edit- OOPS, msandym just reported. ... however, a couple years back at a "pass" super late model race here ... saw a good MSD distributor "blow up" ... because car's crew failed to verify the rotor screws were secure ... rotor got loose under there ... it was not MSD fault ... it was operator error. That day that team looked like a monkey boinkin' a football.
There's a finite tally of vettes w/ mech tach ... many already have td hei ... a large group will never give up points ... some td hei users will return to points. Yea, there's the rare ratrod or race guy who might want one but they're not significant either.
when I first noticed cheap china tdhei selling on fleabay some 5-6 yrs ago, the cheapest was around $300 and $300 seemed cheap at that time... they've steadily dropped & will continue to in the near term.
fyi ... about same time ... & back when margin was enough to make it worth my while, I sold dozens of td hei ... used to ... no more ... don't ask. Most I've seen are actually pretty good quality ... not like OE but right decent. Not a valid measure of quality so only anecdotal: not one guy has reported a td hei failure to me (my contact info hasn't changed throughout). However, for my money, I'd put a genuine GM gear on bottom & wash tach gears & lube w/ moly. G'luck
-edit- OOPS, msandym just reported. ... however, a couple years back at a "pass" super late model race here ... saw a good MSD distributor "blow up" ... because car's crew failed to verify the rotor screws were secure ... rotor got loose under there ... it was not MSD fault ... it was operator error. That day that team looked like a monkey boinkin' a football.
Last edited by jackson; Nov 21, 2009 at 08:26 AM. Reason: moinfo
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 893
Likes: 7
From: Orange Park Florida
I bought one two years ago. Lasted about 6 months - one of the pins that secures the weight springs came loose (no weld, just pressed in). One weight came off and flew through the cap. I tore it apart, welded both pins, purchased new weight kit and a new cap. It's been working ever since.
