New Ignition?
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Joined: Sep 2009
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New Ignition?
What I am working with here is a 1980 5.7 350 with nearly all original parts with 107k miles on it. The distributor has a crack in it. Some of the spark plug wires are chewed up and burnt a bit. Older spark plugs. The timing is off quite a bit.
So what I'm asking here is what distributor and wires should i get and what other parts you think I would want to replace. Is it possible to switch from a distributor with vacuum advance to a distributor with mechanical advance? And what would that entail with switching to a mechanical advance? what other stuff would I have to do to make it work with a distributor with mechanical advance? Is there a benefit to having mechanical advance over vacuum advance?
So what I'm asking here is what distributor and wires should i get and what other parts you think I would want to replace. Is it possible to switch from a distributor with vacuum advance to a distributor with mechanical advance? And what would that entail with switching to a mechanical advance? what other stuff would I have to do to make it work with a distributor with mechanical advance? Is there a benefit to having mechanical advance over vacuum advance?
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http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-850001R/?rtype=10
Will this work out just fine? And what spark plugs and spark plug wires do you suggest? I don't have much experience with this so I am still learning so any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Will this work out just fine? And what spark plugs and spark plug wires do you suggest? I don't have much experience with this so I am still learning so any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
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Joined: Mar 2006
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I replaced the whole ignition system in my 79. I used MSD Pro Billet,
MSD coil, and control box. The car has never run this good. I also replaced the harmonic balancer it
had turned, top dead center was 16 deg. advanced. I replaced the wires and ran them
on top instead of under the manifold.
MSD coil, and control box. The car has never run this good. I also replaced the harmonic balancer it
had turned, top dead center was 16 deg. advanced. I replaced the wires and ran them
on top instead of under the manifold.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
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From: Crossville TN
All distributors already have 'mechanical' advance systems built into them. There are only some that do NOT have a vacuum advance system also built in. If the 'crack' you are describing is in the distributor cap [the plastic piece on the top with the plug wire pins coming out], all you need to do is replace the cap and the disposable internal components to fix your ignition problems. The '80 vehicle has the H.E.I. ignition system which has the ignition coil assembled in the distributor cap and also has a solid-state ignition module internal to the distributor; it does not have ignition points.
Buy a new distributor cap and coil, a new ignition module, new wires and new spark plugs. Change all of that out to get your ignition system in good shape. But...keep the coil and the ignition module as "spare parts" should you need them in a 'pinch'; they are most likely still good, if the car starts and runs decently. The settings for timing and spark plug gap should be stated on the emission sticker at the top of the driver's firewall area in the engine compartment. Or it will also be in the Owner's Manual or other service manual for your car. You will need to follow the correct procedure to set timing on your engine, since the ignition module is intended to do that job for you.
Buy a new distributor cap and coil, a new ignition module, new wires and new spark plugs. Change all of that out to get your ignition system in good shape. But...keep the coil and the ignition module as "spare parts" should you need them in a 'pinch'; they are most likely still good, if the car starts and runs decently. The settings for timing and spark plug gap should be stated on the emission sticker at the top of the driver's firewall area in the engine compartment. Or it will also be in the Owner's Manual or other service manual for your car. You will need to follow the correct procedure to set timing on your engine, since the ignition module is intended to do that job for you.
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 58
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All distributors already have 'mechanical' advance systems built into them. There are only some that do NOT have a vacuum advance system also built in. If the 'crack' you are describing is in the distributor cap [the plastic piece on the top with the plug wire pins coming out], all you need to do is replace the cap and the disposable internal components to fix your ignition problems. The '80 vehicle has the H.E.I. ignition system which has the ignition coil assembled in the distributor cap and also has a solid-state ignition module internal to the distributor; it does not have ignition points.
Buy a new distributor cap and coil, a new ignition module, new wires and new spark plugs. Change all of that out to get your ignition system in good shape. But...keep the coil and the ignition module as "spare parts" should you need them in a 'pinch'; they are most likely still good, if the car starts and runs decently. The settings for timing and spark plug gap should be stated on the emission sticker at the top of the driver's firewall area in the engine compartment. Or it will also be in the Owner's Manual or other service manual for your car. You will need to follow the correct procedure to set timing on your engine, since the ignition module is intended to do that job for you.
Buy a new distributor cap and coil, a new ignition module, new wires and new spark plugs. Change all of that out to get your ignition system in good shape. But...keep the coil and the ignition module as "spare parts" should you need them in a 'pinch'; they are most likely still good, if the car starts and runs decently. The settings for timing and spark plug gap should be stated on the emission sticker at the top of the driver's firewall area in the engine compartment. Or it will also be in the Owner's Manual or other service manual for your car. You will need to follow the correct procedure to set timing on your engine, since the ignition module is intended to do that job for you.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,989
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From: Meriden CT
I think it's just the cap that is cracked, from the sounds of it. It would probably run pretty rough and be very sensitive to moisture with a cracked cap, no? If the distributor shaft doen't have any side to side play, the bushings are OK and you don't need to replace it. Make sure the mechanical wights move freely, and the vacuum advance still works (with a vacuum pump). Then replace the cracked cap, put in the new rotor, plugs & wires. I don't replace parts like the coil and ignition module if they still work.
Lars' papers will probably tell you all you need to know about this.
Lars' papers will probably tell you all you need to know about this.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,117
From: Crossville TN
It would be very unusual for the distributor body to sustain any such damage. About everything in that distributor can be rebuilt; and the GM unit was a good quality casting and design. Give it a tune up and see how it goes. I'd bet that it runs great.
