MSD 8394 E-Curve
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 235
Likes: 28
From: Fort McMurray Alberta
MSD 8394 E-Curve
Folks:
Has anyone used the MSD 8394 E-Curve distributor? https://www.msdperformance.com/produ...let/parts/8394
I just had mine arrive and was wondering if anyone has had any issues with them? I looked on different forums and reviews and haven't seen much other than people having a hard time with setting it up/reading the instructions. Not a lot of posts really in the last few years.
Pro's:
* Electronic vacuum advance settings
* Electronic mechanical advance settings
* Rev limiter
* Ignition module built in - No more MSD box
Reasons for purchase are all of the above.
I still have my MSD tach drive which I rebuilt and have the MSD 6 box that I can use as a spare if this distributor craps the bed. I've had issues (like others) with keeping the center electrode in the cap from burning up and becoming level with the cap. Also, the amount of rust that I had inside the distributor when I first bought the car was amazing. There's a thread on here somewhere.
Anyways, just looking for input from folks (neg or pos) that have run this unit.
Cheers,
Ryan
Has anyone used the MSD 8394 E-Curve distributor? https://www.msdperformance.com/produ...let/parts/8394
I just had mine arrive and was wondering if anyone has had any issues with them? I looked on different forums and reviews and haven't seen much other than people having a hard time with setting it up/reading the instructions. Not a lot of posts really in the last few years.
Pro's:
* Electronic vacuum advance settings
* Electronic mechanical advance settings
* Rev limiter
* Ignition module built in - No more MSD box
Reasons for purchase are all of the above.
I still have my MSD tach drive which I rebuilt and have the MSD 6 box that I can use as a spare if this distributor craps the bed. I've had issues (like others) with keeping the center electrode in the cap from burning up and becoming level with the cap. Also, the amount of rust that I had inside the distributor when I first bought the car was amazing. There's a thread on here somewhere.
Anyways, just looking for input from folks (neg or pos) that have run this unit.
Cheers,
Ryan
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,444
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
I've had mine since they first came out about 10 years ago. On the plus side they don't have mechanical advance.
So you read in the book how you want your advance. I think that MSD made so many choices that are way out of bounds and in large increments that are not even relevant to any motor in existence.
so you can set the initial to lets say 18 degrees. I don't have the book in front of me. I'm guessing now on what I have dialed in. But then through the two switches by the graphs you add 15 degrees of advance and all in at 3200 for a total of 33 degrees for my AFR 210cc heads. Then with the vacuum advance hooked to PORTED on the carb I add 10 degrees advance on high vacuum cruising.
The increments are stupid 5 degrees and I called them to change future models to 2 or 3 degrees. Of course they didn't!
But anyway it is only a Dizzy plus a rev limiter. Multi spark boxes do exactly what they say. They multi spark up to about 3000 rpm depending on the quality of the digital multi unit you buy.
I have never had a problem using it on the street/race motors that I swapped in and out of my Vette
So you read in the book how you want your advance. I think that MSD made so many choices that are way out of bounds and in large increments that are not even relevant to any motor in existence.
so you can set the initial to lets say 18 degrees. I don't have the book in front of me. I'm guessing now on what I have dialed in. But then through the two switches by the graphs you add 15 degrees of advance and all in at 3200 for a total of 33 degrees for my AFR 210cc heads. Then with the vacuum advance hooked to PORTED on the carb I add 10 degrees advance on high vacuum cruising.
The increments are stupid 5 degrees and I called them to change future models to 2 or 3 degrees. Of course they didn't!
But anyway it is only a Dizzy plus a rev limiter. Multi spark boxes do exactly what they say. They multi spark up to about 3000 rpm depending on the quality of the digital multi unit you buy.
I have never had a problem using it on the street/race motors that I swapped in and out of my Vette
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,444
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
Oh I have had flawless performance out of it. But I also have a Crane cams E-core coil and a Crane cams HI-6R multi spark box Taylor 10mm pro wires AP 3924 platinum plugs with rev limiters set at 7500 rpm and used to drive it before braking into the rev limiter on road racing tracks when I had the smaller 383 solid roller motor
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 235
Likes: 28
From: Fort McMurray Alberta
I've had mine since they first came out about 10 years ago. On the plus side they don't have mechanical advance.
So you read in the book how you want your advance. I think that MSD made so many choices that are way out of bounds and in large increments that are not even relevant to any motor in existence.
so you can set the initial to lets say 18 degrees. I don't have the book in front of me. I'm guessing now on what I have dialed in. But then through the two switches by the graphs you add 15 degrees of advance and all in at 3200 for a total of 33 degrees for my AFR 210cc heads. Then with the vacuum advance hooked to PORTED on the carb I add 10 degrees advance on high vacuum cruising.
The increments are stupid 5 degrees and I called them to change future models to 2 or 3 degrees. Of course they didn't!
But anyway it is only a Dizzy plus a rev limiter. Multi spark boxes do exactly what they say. They multi spark up to about 3000 rpm depending on the quality of the digital multi unit you buy.
I have never had a problem using it on the street/race motors that I swapped in and out of my Vette
So you read in the book how you want your advance. I think that MSD made so many choices that are way out of bounds and in large increments that are not even relevant to any motor in existence.
so you can set the initial to lets say 18 degrees. I don't have the book in front of me. I'm guessing now on what I have dialed in. But then through the two switches by the graphs you add 15 degrees of advance and all in at 3200 for a total of 33 degrees for my AFR 210cc heads. Then with the vacuum advance hooked to PORTED on the carb I add 10 degrees advance on high vacuum cruising.
The increments are stupid 5 degrees and I called them to change future models to 2 or 3 degrees. Of course they didn't!
But anyway it is only a Dizzy plus a rev limiter. Multi spark boxes do exactly what they say. They multi spark up to about 3000 rpm depending on the quality of the digital multi unit you buy.
I have never had a problem using it on the street/race motors that I swapped in and out of my Vette
Agreed - 5 degree increments or combination of 5 degrees seems like too wide of a gap. 5 degrees is A LOT to some motors/applications and it doesn't seem to make sense why they didn't close that up to 2 or 3 like you say. If you haven't had any serious issues in 10 years than that works for me
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,444
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
Funny story. I used to vacation in Canada. great mountains, lakes, fishing.. drive through on my way to and from Alaska
Then one day over in BC in a rental car on a fishing trip. I was driving 100 mph not the posted 100Km down the highway which is more like 70 mph conversion. You guys have those photo speed cameras. Well they tracked me down a month later from the LIC plate rental that I had rented in Canada. It was a big $$$ ticket so I called up and asked if you guys could work with me a little bit on the amount on my honest mistake
They were very firm on the amount even with my offers of less
So even with the less offer that they didn't take.............. I've never been back to our northern friends country because I must be a wanted man
Then one day over in BC in a rental car on a fishing trip. I was driving 100 mph not the posted 100Km down the highway which is more like 70 mph conversion. You guys have those photo speed cameras. Well they tracked me down a month later from the LIC plate rental that I had rented in Canada. It was a big $$$ ticket so I called up and asked if you guys could work with me a little bit on the amount on my honest mistake
They were very firm on the amount even with my offers of lessSo even with the less offer that they didn't take.............. I've never been back to our northern friends country because I must be a wanted man
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 235
Likes: 28
From: Fort McMurray Alberta
Funny story. I used to vacation in Canada. great mountains, lakes, fishing.. drive through on my way to and from Alaska
Then one day over in BC in a rental car on a fishing trip. I was driving 100 mph not the posted 100Km down the highway which is more like 70 mph conversion. You guys have those photo speed cameras. Well they tracked me down a month later from the LIC plate rental that I had rented in Canada. It was a big $$$ ticket so I called up and asked if you guys could work with me a little bit on the amount on my honest mistake They were very firm on the amount even with my offers of less
So even with the less offer that they didn't take.............. I've never been back to our northern friends country because I must be a wanted man
Then one day over in BC in a rental car on a fishing trip. I was driving 100 mph not the posted 100Km down the highway which is more like 70 mph conversion. You guys have those photo speed cameras. Well they tracked me down a month later from the LIC plate rental that I had rented in Canada. It was a big $$$ ticket so I called up and asked if you guys could work with me a little bit on the amount on my honest mistake
They were very firm on the amount even with my offers of lessSo even with the less offer that they didn't take.............. I've never been back to our northern friends country because I must be a wanted man
The photo radar is a pain in Alberta especially if you drive a company truck like me and the ticket goes straight to fleet and HR; That is another ball game. However, coming from Alaska you'd be going through B.C. and they got rid of those long ago, thankfully 
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