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  #1  
Old 04-15-2009, 10:51 PM
rrunnertexas rrunnertexas is offline
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Help 383 Distributor advice

Recently, the upper bushing in my factory Chrysler electronic ignition distributor failed, causing the distributor shaft to have lots of play, resulting in the reluctor hitting the pickup.

I am in the process of replacing the busing and putting the distributor back in place.

My question is this... Is there another brand of distributor that will "plug right in" and work with the Chrysler electronic ignition (orange box), or is the factory orange box limited to working just with the factory style distributor?

If there are some that will work, what are the brands and p/ns? I have a 383 in my Road Runner.

Thanks!
David
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  #2  
Old 04-16-2009, 01:01 AM
passing you passing you is offline
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proform

I think any distributor with a magnetic pick up would work, but most require at least an adaptor plug.
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Old 04-16-2009, 05:08 PM
rrunnertexas rrunnertexas is offline
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Biggrin

I forgot to mention, I am looking for a new distributor that still has a vacuum advance unit and maybe a shaft that is supported by bearings instead of bushings.

Thanks,
David
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  #4  
Old 04-16-2009, 05:58 PM
DonCarr DonCarr is offline
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http://www.4secondsflat.com/Ignition.html

The 4secondsflat guy rebuilds and recurves distributors. His advice and the recurve may save a bunch of tuning trouble/time down the road.
Maybe not the best distributor, but what's it worth to get the curve right ? Pamela Anderson would say she made millions by getting the curve right.
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Old 04-17-2009, 07:16 PM
valiant64 valiant64 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DonCarr View Post
http://www.4secondsflat.com/Ignition.html

The 4secondsflat guy rebuilds and recurves distributors. His advice and the recurve may save a bunch of tuning trouble/time down the road.
Maybe not the best distributor, but what's it worth to get the curve right ? Pamela Anderson would say she made millions by getting the curve right.
Good suggestion, DC. MSD makes a nice piece as well as Mallory, even though some people hate the Unilite distributor, I've never had problems with one.
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  #6  
Old 04-17-2009, 07:39 PM
DonCarr DonCarr is offline
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Summit list of distributors. Proform is on there.
http://store.summitracing.com/egnsea...=KeywordSearch

Ebay has a chinese made unit for $70 that has an HEI module built the back of the housing.
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  #7  
Old 04-18-2009, 10:48 PM
dave5711 dave5711 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rrunnertexas View Post
I forgot to mention, I am looking for a new distributor that still has a vacuum advance unit and maybe a shaft that is supported by bearings instead of bushings.

Thanks,
David
It would seem to me your best bet would be to run a mp adjustable unit. Then you can curve it rourself.

The factory distributors usually go 100's of thousands of miles wihout trouble, so I think a new one of these would outlast the car, regardless of whether it has bushings or bearings.

I also think there i's no need to go with anything other than the oem style, if you are going to use the oem box(my .02)
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  #8  
Old 04-19-2009, 12:30 AM
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ehostler ehostler is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DonCarr View Post
http://www.4secondsflat.com/Ignition.html

The 4secondsflat guy rebuilds and recurves distributors. His advice and the recurve may save a bunch of tuning trouble/time down the road.
Maybe not the best distributor, but what's it worth to get the curve right ? Pamela Anderson would say she made millions by getting the curve right.
I don't know that I would buy anything from don (FBO/4secondsflat). His quality and support has been lacking for a little while. I know that he has lost at least one distribution point, because of this.

There is another active thread of problems with the FBO ignition system and them finally getting fed up with Don and his product. http://www.moparchat.com/forums/showthread.php?t=115334

I've also had Don try to sell me stuff that I didn't need, because he failed to recognize the simplicity of the problem.
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Old 04-19-2009, 01:08 PM
passing you passing you is offline
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Yep, pretty much....
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Old 04-19-2009, 03:50 PM
rrunnertexas rrunnertexas is offline
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Dave5771,

I am beginning to realize that my choices for a distributor using the factory orange box are somewhat limited.

Dave, I agree that the factory Chrysler ignition is a great set-up and has been reliable for years. After reading and looking for an aftermarket distributor, I believe that a factory unit may indeed be my best bet. So, I need a new MP or DC electronic vacuum advance distributor for my 383.

I guess I was a bit shocked/disappointed that the upper busing in my original distributor literally wore out, causing the upper shaft to have a play of at least .020", which led the reluctor to hit the pickup and cause the car to stall.... Of course, it stalled in the middle of Arizona on the highway on my return trip from the Mopars At the Strip show in Vegas!

Thanks!
David
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  #11  
Old 04-20-2009, 12:58 AM
DonCarr DonCarr is offline
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Don't know much about the quality issues from the 4secondsflat outfit. He does seem to offer good information. Large tech section.

One issue he points out is cranking voltage. Often high performance ignitions trade cranking spark for high rpm spark. Capacitive discharge systems do not have this problem. 4secondsflat claims their system has the highest cranking spark energy short of capacitive discharge.

So the orange box may well have a better cranking spark than a chrome or gold. This happens with hei as well. The stock module has higher cranking spark than an expensive performance module.

Neat chart here, not cranking spark though. Done on a test machine, not an engine. http://www.4secondsflat.com/a688dropcyltest.html

If cranking spark is a concern and FBO has troubles it may be worth considering a capacitive discharge module. I honest don't know when cranking spark becomes an issue. Maybe some could relay their exeriences.

An it's a shame there is not an electronic advance curve distributor like the crane for Mopars.
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  #12  
Old 04-20-2009, 08:52 PM
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ehostler ehostler is offline
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Either MSD or Mallory has an electronic distributor that has an electronic advance setup for the MOPAR. Mass-Flo Fuel Injection Systems uses it with their kits.
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  #13  
Old 04-20-2009, 09:42 PM
DonCarr DonCarr is offline
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Found those distributors. Not cheap.

MSD small block $375 http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

Mallory small block $423 http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

Mallory big block $423 http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

MSD has a box to add to CD with limited adjustments too for locked distributors. http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku
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