no one knows??

 

No difference unless your going to be turning 9-10000 rpm's. But they sure look nice

 

save your money, buy something else

 

save your money, buy something else

DITTO on that!!!

 

there shinny

 

LOL so basically a stock distributor is good enough for even heavily modified cars??

 

I don't know what you consider "heavily modified" but it will support your standard stroker with a hci, nitrous and supercharger/turbocharger, providing that they are the standard kits you buy. When you start getting into the xx and y trimmed vortechs, you will need a lot more engine than what you have and at that point you will be ditching your way of thinking anyway.

 

Wow, though are some misinformed post. The stock distributor is very inaccurate on advanced timing. As you climb RPM's (we're talking under 6k), it is very inconsistent. The MSD internals are not stock. They use their own stuff and the bearings they use are very nice. They keep a consistent advance, unlike the stock distributer. As for whether you need one or not: I wouldn't get one unless you're pumping some good horsepower, like over 400rwhp. The stock distributor does a good enough job, but every stock distributor is different. Grab something like a tweecer or something close and you'll see what I'm talking about. Very important on a forced induction motor. And yes, they look good. There is a reason why serious motors don't use a stock distributor (ie - hot rods, outlaw cars, etc)

 

Cobra R you are correct, I just was a bit simpler than your explaination. You wouldn't use a high end part on a low end engine would you, then again I guess there are stupid people in the world.

When I refer to high end, I am not talking about your standard trickflow, edelbrock, afr stuff you can get order right out of a summit or mustangs unlimited catalog. Everybody's version of high end is different, some people think Friday's is a high end resturant and never seen or been or even heard of a 5 star like Per Se in New York where a plate of food is $125 per person and requires 2 months in advance to book.

 

Hi there,
I just love the corral.

If you look at the cars that come out of Jimmy LaRocca shop they all run the stk. distributor. Jimmy won't tune a car that has an aftermarket distributor. One of the hardest cars to fire are Renegade cars because of their high (non-intercooled) boost levels and most of the top teams are using stk. distributors. If the stk. distrubutor is fine for these high HP cars then it should be more than enough for us making alot less. Heck, Mike Freedman (2002 NMRA Renegade Champion) has a hardly used MSD distributor for sale and he'll sell it to ya real cheap.

Outlaw cars use crank triggers and cam sensors to handle their timing issues and they use a distributor just for firing purposes (not going to go into super detail on how all that stuff works).

Neither Accel or MSD phase their distributors properly. Basically meaning their rotors and electronics are not properly phased and this will lead to mis-firing because their rotors are not centered on the post.

The TFI module and the processor controls the timing and the TFI modules from Ford are some of the best in the industry. Basically, the TFI module picks up whats going on inside the distributor and passes this info to the processor which discharges the coil when needed. Ask around some of the best tuners in the country and they'll tell ya the best TFI module for our cars are not the ones from MSD or Accel but from Ford.

The stk. distibutor is ugly but in this case beware of things that come in shiny packages.

See ya
Michael Plummer

 

Well, Michael, I think we agree to disagree. A lot of the cars I see running 9's and 10's around here are using aftermarket distributors. I can't honestly believe that if MSD (not accel, I think they sell a lot of junk) isn't accurate. I've seen plenty of guys use them on Dyno's and at the track with great success. I don't think the Ford pieces are that successful. Heck, they had a lawsuit against them because of the amount of problems they had. Doesn't sound to accurate to me.

 

Wow, though are some misinformed post. The stock distributor is very inaccurate on advanced timing. As you climb RPM's (we're talking under 6k), it is very inconsistent. The MSD internals are not stock. They use their own stuff and the bearings they use are very nice. They keep a consistent advance, unlike the stock distributer. As for whether you need one or not: I wouldn't get one unless you're pumping some good horsepower, like over 400rwhp. The stock distributor does a good enough job, but every stock distributor is different. Grab something like a tweecer or something close and you'll see what I'm talking about. Very important on a forced induction motor. And yes, they look good. There is a reason why serious motors don't use a stock distributor (ie - hot rods, outlaw cars, etc)

The distributor is just a crank position sensor. It tells the computer the position of the cam/crank. The computer uses this info along with the TFI mod to determine timing and fire the coil. The distributor does not directly control timing.

 

Thought I'd reply to this since this thread popped up on another thread. Nope distributor does not directly control timing, but it has a huge influence on it. That's the reason why MSD has an oversized shaft which helps stay stabile at our higher RPM band, which makes for consistent timing, especially if you're motor climbs faster than stock. Funny how the Pro 5.0 cars are mentioned above....I see MSD dizzies on NHRA and Nascar cars, along with IHRA and Rally cars....guess they don't know what they're doing since the amateur Mustang racing circuit uses stock dizzies (actually, I know of quite a few pro 5.0 and true street guys with aftermarket dizzies)

 

It has an influence as far as the accuracy of the info it sends to the ECU. I agree a MSD is better quality, but typically not nessecary for most steet/drag setups.

 

MSD Dizzy here for years with no problems!

My stocker (with damn bushings) locked up at 5K and caused all kinds of trouble. It's nice to know the MSD at least has bearings in it when your spinning the motor up.

BUT- I will say a few months ago I was tuning a 95 with a big turbo motor and AEM and he had TWO MSD dizzys with him and neither would sync with the AEM so the car wouldn't start. We tracked down a stocker and it fired right up, to the tune of 875rwhp with the stock dizzy...

 

I see MSD dizzies on NHRA and Nascar cars, along with IHRA and Rally cars....guess they don't know what they're doing since the amateur Mustang racing circuit uses stock dizzies (actually, I know of quite a few pro 5.0 and true street guys with aftermarket dizzies)

Hi 94 Cobra R,
Why is MSD a favorite at alot of different racing events/programs? Would Contingency and Sponsorship programs have something to do with it??????

Last time I checked I don't run parts made for racing cars from those racing programs you mentioned above. I use street heads, not racing heads, I use street suspension setups and not those used in road racing application, I use a street blower and not a racing one,

The MSD product line is fine but for the application in question here the MSD distributor is not need and the stk. distibutor is alot better than you think.

Also the knock on the local or amateur Mustang racing circuit is not needed. Some very knowledgeable people race, tune and build in these circuits.

See ya
Michael Plummer

 

Hey Mike,
First, let me start by saying I wasin't knocking the Mustang race guys. There are some VERY knowledgable guys in there. I'm just saying that if the PRO guys run it, then most of the time, it can't be just for show. Sure contingency and sponsorship have a lot to do with it, doesn't mean I would use a MSD distributor if it was junk. I wouldn't want to cost my chance at a big race if I had to worry about the distributor failing. As for what you use in your car, many people use the same setups that are used in racing conditions. Griggs suspension, big blowers, big motors, stroked motors, etc. The original question was should he replace his distributor that is broken with an aftermarket. Considering that he's thinking about getting a blower, he's going to need consistent timing. And if he's got the money to get a better distributor, then why not get it? Why are you getting a new combo if you're content with what you have? You want to have the best that you can afford. Plan and simple.

 

Yeah but the question is........Is the difference between the MSD and Stock big enough to justify the price? I say NO.

 

Don't forget that the condition of the timing chain has a lot to do with accuracy of the spark timing. Of course sloppy and worn distributor internals undoubtedly contribute to poor spark accuracy too, but a simple rebuild kit will take care of that. You could buy probably at least three rebuild kits for the price of one MSD distributor. As of now, Summit sells part #8455, the '94-'95 specific 5.0L EFI distributor for $281.88.

A new aftermarket distributor won't give you any more power than a rebuilt stocker. The MSD will last longer because of it's superior quality internals, but a rebuild kit is what, maybe $50.00-$65.00? I'm guessing here, so please correct me if I'm wrong. I can't see the point of buying a whole new distributor if you already have a properly functiong stocker. You'll gain absolutely nothing, unless the stocker is worn. However, rebuilding the stocker would give the same benefits as buying an MSD. If your stocker is no longer useable, then the MSD becomes more attractive. However, you could just buy a used stocker and rebuild it for less.

If someone can show documented proof that an MSD will provide more power and better timing accuracy on a given engine than the stock Ford EFI distributor, then please show it. I'd love to see it. I'm not saying definitively that this can't be proven, rather, I'm saying that I've seen nothing that says an aftermarket distributor is just plain better under any and all circumstances than a rebuilt stock unit.

 

Wow this is a good thread !

i just bought a MSD Distributor for looks ... i guess LOL

Whats the word on the Small Gear on the shaft i heard you have to change it if u UPGRADE YOUR OIL PUMP AND SOMETHING ELSE ....

is this true ?

 

Basically I think everyone is agreeing here for the most part -

If you are buying an MSD for power - dont bother it wont get you any more.

If your stock distributor died - the MSD unit is generally regarded as a higher quality replacement because of the gear and housing materials and bearings vs. stock bushings. If you dont care much you can just rebuild the stocker for a lot less and get the same effect though as a ditributors function isnt all that complex.

The AEM's specificly have a problem with MSD's. Its not because the stock one is better, its just an "incompatibility".

-Jason

 

Good thread. Ok, so I have a 94' vert with 146k and a new 306 with some mods like flat top pistons and crane 2031 or e cam on the way. My idle is a little rough right now but acceleration is very smooth. I bought a new damper and going to pu that on the new engine..so since we are on the topic, should I buy a new ford distributor too? Also, are they hard to rebuild yourself or is that something you take to the shop? Thanks.