ajrothm

I need a tach drive distributior for my dad’s 65’ that will fit under the ignition shielding box, so it needs to be a small frame style and has to have tach drive. I’ve already had a MSD pro billet with a Digital 6 box in it and the factory/repro TI ignition stuff, and had lots of problems with both. The only thing that runs right, all of the time is an HEI, but it doesn’t fit in the ignition box. Thought about trying one of these “Pro series” distributors….

Anyone have any experience with them? I know they are Chinese stuff but…

https://www.topflightautomotive.com/...lor_attr=Black

Mdbirk

Pro Series Ready to Run R2R Distributor for Chevy Corvette SB/BB, Tach Drive, V8 Engine, Black Cap https://www.walmart.com/ip/319716223

Mdbirk

I threw my msd away and bought that! Walmart app says they're out of stock but the actually website has them. https://swperformanceparts.com/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3ZayBhDRARIs APWzx8oA6k1_DOH0pwGL8ET7c2__3XXz_gckTd6G qw3hpDJOjBosnOWvpKsaArmDEALw_wcB

ajrothm

Have you put some miles on it? Run well with no issues?

augiedoggy

They are all over ebay for $120 shipped... I use a chinese HEI myself and havent had any issues in 12 years except the ingnition modules have failed multiple times but thats a quality problem with the replacement parts and I changed my vacuum advance can for something with more tunability.

The truth is if the High dollar stuff was really so much better we wouldnt be having this conversation would we?

Mdbirk

10,xxx miles.... Trouble free

ML67

What issues are/have you experienced? I've run the MSD billet tach drive and old 6AL box for close to 30 yrs w/ only a single coil issue. Was your issue w/ the digital 6 box or the distributor? The distributors, while not cheap, are pretty basic and simple. Do you have access to an old MSD box? Might be worth a try. Unfortunately I've heard the modern (offshored?) MSD stuff isn't what it was back in the day...

John 65

I have one of those 49.99 ebay China specials. Has worked perfect for about 13 years now. Not a fan of the red so I threw a black cap and retainer on it.

ajrothm

Hey bud!

Man my old school 6AL box and Pro billet distributor in my 71’has been flawless for 30k miles/15 years, but I’ve had nothing but problems in the 65’ 396 car. Started out with the repro TI stuff and had misfire issues on the dyno, along with intermitten run issues on the road. Swapped all those parts around with no smoking gun found.

I said screw it and bought all new MSD pro billet distributor and the Digital 6Al black box. It worked fine for a few months then car started acting up. Odd misfires, surges, erratic timing etc, one side of the motor would pop hard through a side pipe. Bought another new Digital 6AL box, same problem. Inspected the distributor internally for rust etc, it’s clean as a whistle, air gap seems to be in spec.

So I slapped a Chinese MSD street fire HEI in for testing and the car runs flawless. Ran it for 300 miles, no issues..other then no tach drive and the ignition shielding doesn’t fit.

Yesterday I decided to try the pro billet/Digital 6AL box again and it instantly ran different/bad. It runs/acts like the timing is retarded, even with it as high as 49*.

I’m not sure what it is. It worked fine in the beginning for a few months so I know the wiring is good… the new style harnesses are almost fool proof. That said, I ripped it all off yesterday, put the HEI back in it and the car runs perfect.

Hence my search for a small frame HEI or “ready to run” style distributor.

theandies

Been running an MSD 8572 Tach drive with a 6AL box for 20+ problem free years. Not inexpensive though. Should find a cap/plug design that will fit under the shield.
As far as the Chinese part for $150. Might last years, might last minutes. You have to decide if you want to take that chance.

I always look at a companies "About Us" on their websites. It's telling that they only mention a warehouse and not a manufacturing facility.

Caveat emptor - just say'in

69427

Just my quick glance at that distributor. A couple comments and questions.

The pickup coil and reluctor wheel look to be copies of the Ford design. This should be a durable setup, and the signal from that sensor coil should be usable with several ignition module types, including HEI modules. Ignition coil choices should be simple.

What is the height of the setup? The cap looks taller than the older style caps. Will it fit under the shielding?

augiedoggy

You may be able to find some reviews on these distributors from some of the other vendors like ecklers or Summit since they all sell the same version I believe zip or ecklers carries two different versions of the same type of distributor

Mdbirk

I run a tunnel ram and it fits perfect, sorry I never stopped to think about the shield as I don't use one but I think it's just about 6 1/2in maybe 6 7/8ths....will that work? The website states it's a direct replacement. It's been really reliable. I bought the matching coil from them too.

Mdbirk

Okay I actually went out and measured it, it's 5 1/8 wide and from the top of the intake is 6 7/8, the one it came with that had the shield is 5 1/8 wide and it looks like it would about 7 7/16 once installed. So should fit

augiedoggy

You may be able to find some reviews on these distributors from some of the other vendors like ecklers or Summit since they all sell the same version I believe zip or ecklers carries two different versions of the same type of distributor

OldCarBum

For $120.00 it might be worth it to just drop one in and see how it runs.
When I bought my 73 it had a cheap unknown brand Chinese HEI in it and ran flawless for six years.

carriljc

Amazingly I've been running my MSD 8572 for 28 years with an 31-year old MSD-6A (analog I reckon!) and it has never hiccupped.
The dang distributor does rust terribly so I clean it every couple of years and I've been coating the internals with Silver POR-15 - to keep the rust at bay for years.

BUT it has never failed me..... even when it was rusty AF. That being said I would buy one of those cheap ones if I had to replace it today..... MSD price is totally ridiculous.

Big2Bird

DUI makes an excellent tach drive HEI.

C3 Stroker

They do. But it doesn't fit under the shielding.

ML67

That sucks...if I understand correctly you swapped out both the distributor and digital box for HEI? I'm curious if the distributor might work w/ an old analog MSD 6/6AL box? As I mentioned above, my only problem was w/ a coil where the barrel contact / brass sleeve pulled out of the coil when I changed wires and ran intermittently until I found the problem and swapped coils.

I know it can be a pita, but have you iteratively replaced the coil then the box w/ a known good box - like your old box in your 71? Just thinking out loud... ignition and electronic gremlins aren't much fun...good luck