I got a new electronic distributor today, and when I looked at it it has 2 seperate pickup units in it? With two wiring pigtails? What is the second one for ? And can I just eliminate one of them?

Thanks,
Rick

What you have there depends on if that dual pickup distributor has a vacuum pod on it or not. If it does it is an older ECU style distrib, and you should be able to eliminate the second, or start pickup. If it has no vacuum pod then it is a Leanburn or ESC style distributor and cant be used with the older ECU style ignition. It has no mechanical or vacuum advance in it, just a solid shaft, the computer does all the timing...
Hope this helps

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"That thing gotta HEMI in it??"

It does have the vacuum advance unit on it, Thanks. Is the start-up unit used to advance or retard the timing only on start-up? Is that its purpose?

Rick

It doesn't have to do with timing, more with transfer of voltage to the start pickup during startup. Not one of Ma Mopar's better ideas, thats for sure. There was a relay used to switch between the 2 pickups during operation. The starter relay would trigger this other relay to switch pin number 4 on the ECU from the run pickup to the start pickup. When the key was released it would switch back to the run pickup. I believe the idea was that the start pickup would send a stronger voltage signal to the ECU to make starting easier. How did this work in practice? You tell me. How does the original single pickup system compare? You tell me.

What I would do is, if you have the single pickup system wiring in your vehicle I would just hook up the run pickup and leave it at that, and set timing to normal setting. It should run fine.

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"That thing gotta HEMI in it??"

I'd have to research this again, but if I recall correctly, the engines that used that distributor used 16º base timing. The second or "start" pickup was set up with timing retarded from from the run pickup for easier cranking so the engine would not kick back against the starter. That was the reasons for the dual pickup in the vacuum pod distributor. So yes, it was a good and necessary idea.