Slant Six Forum
https://slantsix.org/forum/

Advice on distributor setup
https://slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=56960
Page 1 of 1

Author:  flathead49 [ Wed Jan 21, 2015 9:04 am ]
Post subject:  Advice on distributor setup

I did a search on "Lean Burn" and was a bit overwhelmed with all the results so I'm posting on it again.

I'm working on a 63' Dart rebuild and just got around to looking at the distributor (no previous experience with slants). Comes to find out it's a dual pickup Lean Burn vacuum distributor. I'm guessing that it was updated at some point in the past. This car will be primarily a drag strip car so should I stick with the Lean Burn setup? I was thinking about going the mechanical Mallory Unilite route.

Whatcha members think?

Author:  Dan-o [ Wed Jan 21, 2015 9:24 am ]
Post subject: 

GM HEI upgrade or 73+ Mopar Electronic Distributor are the most popular mods. I did the Mopar Electronic Distributor with a Mopar Performance/MSD box.

Author:  Reed [ Wed Jan 21, 2015 9:48 am ]
Post subject: 

+1 on the switch to GM HEI. What sort of box is controlling the ignition on your car? Points are a big step backwards in every way. Mallory unilite is also outdated.

Author:  flathead49 [ Wed Jan 21, 2015 9:53 am ]
Post subject:  Gm Hei

OK, sounds like I'll go the GM HEI route. Thanks,

Author:  flathead49 [ Wed Jan 21, 2015 10:34 am ]
Post subject:  Maybe HEI already?

Here's a pic of the engine compartment. Maybe it's HEI already since I don't see a spark control box. I guess I would have expected something other than a canister coil. Not sure why there's two control modules, only one was hooked up.

So, do you think it's already and HEI system? Anything performance wise that can be done to improve it?

<img src="https://scontent-b-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10926199_921084927901825_2013880982604316385_n.jpg?oh=1b518b7207fadfe30a0ab7f974a2e045&oe=552A4A50" />

Author:  Reed [ Wed Jan 21, 2015 10:47 am ]
Post subject: 

Looks like you already ave HEI, but I don't know why you have a dual pickup distributor.

The first thing I would do is get rid of that single chamber master cylinder. Switch to a dual chamber for safety. Second would be switching from a mechanical voltage regulaor to an electronic voltage regulator.

After that, you can fine tune the distributor timing advance curve for more performance.

Author:  Joshie225 [ Wed Jan 21, 2015 10:51 am ]
Post subject: 

You need a distributor with a magnetic pickup to trigger the existing HEI module and mechanical advance so that you don't have to suffer with fixed ignition timing.

Author:  flathead49 [ Wed Jan 21, 2015 10:59 am ]
Post subject: 

Yep, front brake upgrades are on the list, which includes a new master cylinder. So, what's needed to swap out the voltage regulator?

Author:  DusterIdiot [ Wed Jan 21, 2015 5:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Distributors...

Not sure why you have the late dual pickup distributor, it would only be needed if you plan on an all out race car and wanted to run fixed timing.

If you haven't gone through all the posts on distributors you are looking for a 1973 to about 1983 single pick up with vacuum advance... Remans are a crap shoot on what curve they have... if you can find a stock one that has it's tag and hasn't been altered (or NOS from a swap meet, Ebay, or Dan's source up north)...Priority would be a 1977-1980 supersix/Federal dizzy (3874876), next up would be the 1976-1977 "598" distributor, these allow more initial that really perk up even a stock slant...the less desired, but still useable and modifiable are the 1973-1975 car distributors, and the stock truck distributors...

Author:  flathead49 [ Tue Jan 27, 2015 7:18 am ]
Post subject: 

Took the distributor in to be tested and it looks like we need a replacement. So where does one easily find a 1977-1980 supersix/Federal dizzy (3874876) distributor? I don't want to go hunting one too hard. Can I just use the CARDONE SELECT Part # 843690 (Electronic) with Vacuum from RockAuto?

Author:  DusterIdiot [ Tue Jan 27, 2015 5:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Options...

Quote:
So where does one easily find a 1977-1980 supersix/Federal dizzy (3874876) distributor?
Swap meets, Ebay, junkyards...
Quote:
Can I just use the CARDONE SELECT Part # 843690 (Electronic) with Vacuum from RockAuto?
Yes, but you get a crap shoot on what the curve is, and the cast pot metal housing is a bit subgrade on the cap fitment.... You'd be lucky if you got a 9R or 11R governor (gotta pull it apart to find out....or you'd get a 15 or 13 L and have to get a buddy to weld the slots up and get new springs...

Author:  Matt Cramer [ Tue Feb 10, 2015 9:03 am ]
Post subject: 

Quote:
Looks like you already ave HEI, but I don't know why you have a dual pickup distributor.
And there are two HEI modules in there - one for each pick up? That doesn't make very much sense as the pick ups are at different angles, and I suspect only one would be any good for someone who wants to run fixed timing.

Lean Burn distributors can be useful to play around with for people who want fixed timing or computer controlled advance. Not a good choice for more normal applications.

Author:  flathead49 [ Wed Feb 11, 2015 7:43 am ]
Post subject: 

The distributor may work out after all. There's a distributor guy here in Vancouver that it was taken to. He removed the non essential second pickup and spun it up (whatever that means). There's no tag attached to the distributor but the numbers "3874876" are stamped on the vacuum diaphragm. I just got it back yesterday and need to look at it a bit closer.

Author:  flathead49 [ Wed Feb 11, 2015 7:57 am ]
Post subject: 

I was thinking about picking up a new ACCEL Ignition Control Module. Right now it has an MSD Blaster 2 Coil and I'm not sure what the functionality of it is. What's the best performing coil I should look at if I need to replace it?

Andrew

Author:  Reed [ Wed Feb 11, 2015 8:16 am ]
Post subject: 

Ford e-core coil off a late 80s/early 90s Ford v8 product.

Page 1 of 1 All times are UTC-08:00
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Limited
https://www.phpbb.com/