MSD Dist mechanical set up??

[Rodney]

Ok, what spring combo ( light blue and heavy silver) And lock out bushing( red, silver black etc) Do I need to install in my MSD mechanical advance Dist??( part#8578) Car is running way to advanced right now back firing through the carb and hesitation under load!! with light blue and light silver springs w/ black bushing. Thanx. Rod

[Roscoe]

Rodney,
I would suggest that you will get your best advice by calling MSD tech. Those guys know exactly what you will need to put in.

Roscoe

[Mr.Fixit]

Big bushing gives you less advance in the dist. Heavier springs make it come in later. The MSD box should have the charts giving you different advance rates etc.

What is your current: initial and total timing?

Does the dist have vacuum advance, if so where do you have the vacuum pulled off of?

[Rodney]

I believe, with the spring bushing combo its mechanical timing would be 25 deg and the initial is at 10 deg, for a total of 35, the dist doesn't have a vacum advance. The MSD box is a Digital 6 Plus. Another challenge would be the fact that the engine doesn't have a timing pointer!! The initial might be too far advanced??

[Andy Dunn]

click here if you have adobe acrobat and turn to page 3 and you will see all the spring bushing combos for your mechanical advance. MSD tech generally says you want the fastest acceleration ramp possible without detonation for maximum power.

Your current settings might be just fine, but you may just be too advanced. You might buy a timing gun and learn where to mount a new timing pointer. This is probably the best first step since that info is necessary before mucking about with springs and bushings. Once you find TDC and mount a pointer, you can then run the engine and use the timing gun to see where you are at. One starting point might be 10-12 degrees initial advance and 34-36 total advance. On a perfomance engine, it is usually better to set total advance. This means you would rev the engine to approximately 3500 rpm and then set the timing. You can then work backwards to set initial by picking the correct bushing. If you chose 36 as total, then you can get initial from this chart I believe. Silver is probably a good starting point and I think that is the one installed as default.

red.....36 - 18 = 18 initial
blue....36 - 21 = 15 initial
silver..36 - 25 = 11 initial
black...36 - 28 = 8 initial

I wrote a little more about this if it interests you here
http://www.cobralads.com/butcher50.html

hope this info is useful

Andy

[Junket]

Rodney
I have the MSD. advance & bushing charts will scan and send if you like I belive they come with 2- silver & blue 21 deg. bushing.
The first order of the day is to get a pointer. As they say in the old days just wind the up to 4000 hold it steady advance it till it quit picking up RPM than back it off a little.
E-Mail me if you want those charts.
Ken

[Rodney]

Hey thanx a bunch guys!! I will accept any additional info you may have on this black art of ignition timing! Next time I see that 911 turbo porsche I shall be ready!!

[Rodney]

I changed my dist gear from bronze to steel after reading your challenges with the dist gear! Thanx for making us aware of all the little things that could go wrong!! Great site, I really enjoy it! I also have a coast performance stroker, 377cid though.

[Rodney]

I'm waiting for the Ford parts guy to find a pointer for my 1969 351 windsor. Does any body know if a after market pointer is available? Or is a wreaking yard only piece?

[Roscoe]

Rodney,

Article on timing:

http://www.priveye.com/dls/Timing.doc

You can go to msd and download instructions

http://www.msdignition.com/

Roscoe

[Rodney]

No luck w/ Ford parts guy, any one know where I can get a timing pointer for a 1969 351 windsor? Or how I can make my own?

[Mr.Fixit]

I have made dozens of them out of a piece of aluminum about .065" thick. Cut it into a triangle, bend over one side about a 1/2" from edge, drill two holes for mounting to timing cover on pass side. Find TDC, draw timing mark on dampner with whiteout where the pointer points.

[Rodney]

Hey Cool! I would love to make an accurate copy of yours, or may be purchase one from you? Any chance that you could fax a scale blue print? fax#780 986 5240. Thanx. Rod

[Mr.Fixit]

Rodney,

I tried faxing you a drawing but it didn't go through. Is that fax number correct? Was it turned off at about 1 pm PST? Anyway the pointer is simple to make, no need to accurately copy anything. You just need a fixed "tab" that hangs out next to the dampner. You will draw your own "timing mark" after finding true TDC with a piston stop.

[Rodney]

Yea the fax was out? Its back up now, could you send the drawing again? Thank you for your help. 780 986 5240