Summit Brand Distributors are JUNK!

Need-a-cage · Mar 6, 2011

I bought a Summit brand distributor and put about 3k miles on it in the last year. Recently, the car started having a problem where it would die after driving for 20 minutes. It would then fire up and be fine all day just after cyling the key off and then restarting. At the time it died, the tach and my datalog would read 0rpm even with the clutch out and the motor was still turning over. So, I would say it has to be either the pickup in the distributor or the TFI module which came on the distributor. Before I finished troubleshooting this, I changed the oil and found part of a roll-pin on my drain plug. I pulled the distributor and found that the roll-pin came from the distributor gear. I removed the roll-pin to swap it out, and the gear isn't even pressed on like it is supposed to be. It spins freely which is probably why the rollpin was sheared off on one side and it would have been completely sheared off by the end of the races on Wednesday if I didn't check this! What a POS! It doesn't feel like it is spinning as freely now as it should either.

Does anyone still sell a new OEM Ford distributor?

Beasty306GT · Mar 6, 2011

found this one Mustangs Unlimited - The Premier Source for Mustang, Shelby and Cougar Parts and Accessories

SLO 5-OH · Mar 6, 2011

I've been using Summit distributor 850411 for about 4 years now and haven't had any problems. It replaced two MSD distributors that were bad right out of the box.

Summit Racing SUM-850411 - Summit Racing Street & Strip® Ready-to-Run Billet Distributors - Overview - SummitRacing.com

Dean

Need-a-cage · Mar 6, 2011

Dean,

Keep an eye on it! Mine only had 3k on it but they were a lot of race miles. I only go to 6k so it is nothing extreme. If I were you, I would pull it out now and make sure that the rollpin for the gear is intact and that it still spins freely. I would then repeat this check at every oil change.

I hope it holds up for you.

Does anyone know who actually makes the Summit brand distributor? The Summit guy said that they had a bunch of Mallory's get returned to them so he suggested an MSD. I have read a lot about bad MSD's so I sticking with the stocker but I want a new one.

Beasty, thanks for the link. I think my buddy might have one that didn't work out for him with his standalone computer so I might get it from him. If not, I'll be ordering the one in the link.

Craig

10sec331 · Mar 6, 2011

Craig,

Contact Barrie, he has a brand new Ford OEM distributor. Sorry to hear that! Good thing the motor is still ok!

Venom351_R · Mar 6, 2011

I would not buy anything but OEM when it comes to TFI modules, Distributors, exc exc..

86 5.0L · Mar 6, 2011

who makes the summit distributors? MSD?

ScottsGT · Mar 7, 2011

Some lucky guy named Chen in a sweat shop.

Need-a-cage · Mar 6, 2011

Hey Tony,

Yes, Rich is the one that has it. Barrie has been in contact with him for me and I am going to get it from him tomorrow. Not sure if it is a rebuild or not but it says Ford on it and he thinks it was over $200 so it must be new. I think he got it from Smothers though and I didn't think they would sell an OEM one.

See you at the track on Wednesday!

8950HO · Mar 7, 2011

Ford dealer.

5mustang8 · Mar 10, 2011

i have a summit distributor in my 351 it's not the tfi fuel injected one through and it seems to be fine.. but i believe that the summit is a copy of mallory it seems to look the same just a different colored cap and the sales man at summit told me that too lol

toddyfiveo · Mar 10, 2011

Ive been running a Summit distributor, box and coil for a year now and have had no problems with any of it. Not trying to stick up for their product but maybe you just got a bad distributor. The summit stuff is made by Mallory, all of the install instructions are exact copys from Mallory.

Bubba 95SN · Mar 10, 2011

I use a Summit billet distributor and ignition box. This summer will be two years of no problems. Use caliper and see if shaft has different thickness. Try a new gear and see if it is tight. Press into place new roll pin and go. If not tight then shaft is wrong, I would hope Summit will take care of it.

Beasty306GT · Mar 10, 2011

heres a new ford oem http://www.mustangsunlimited.com/it...n/Electronics&subCategory=Distributors&SubSubCategory=Distributors&CatKey=74-01

Summit Brand Distributors are JUNK!

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