MSD Distributor

Hello, I'm thinking of asking Santa if I could get one of the MSD "ready to run" distributors for my Buick Nailhead 364, just wondering if anyone else has installed one of these and if they're as easy to install as MSD claim.
Cheers

 

i have had one on my 1952 ford flathead for 2 years now and have had no complaints. however, i had to do a bunch of adjusting to it to get it to my likes. they send everything you need to fine tune it, it was a snap to to install, very easy.

 

Thanks, that's really helpful to know. Did you need any special equipment to fine tune it? Or can it be done simply by listening to how the engine is behaving?

 

You need a timing light to set the timing but otherwise its a snap great product

 

I guess i am a little bias , but your Buick cast Iron Delco could very well be one of the best units ever made !! Looks like it belongs in there with a old school no billitt look , has the correct advance curve with vacuum for more mpg.
Can be rebuilt, painted with new cap and rotor plus shipping for approx $150 or less .
Just another thought .......

 

Listen to Bubba!

 

Well, the engine is running pretty smooth, considering that there's hardly anything left of the contact breakers, it still seems to be working, even when the battery is really flat and the engine is turing slow as a result, the engine still manages to fire up. I was going to buy a new tune up kit from ebay, which is mainly a set of points, rotor and a cap, but then I started thinking about maybe purchasing a Mallory distributor, t I thought, hmmm, it's still points and a condenser, so that lead me to think of an electronic one, so as to do away with points and all the h***le of them eventually wearing out, or needing adjustment.

if anyone is interested, here's a video of the car.
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KXdEzeOl0LU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

It sat in my mum's barn for ten years with a cylinder full of water. I took the engine out last year and set about rebuilding it. I was surprised how strong these nailheads are, I didn't think it would run again.

 

Buy some good parts for the distributor. NAPA CS786 contacts ( the best ever) a rr175 NAPA condensor . Clean the distributor cam with some brake clean, Lube the contacts ( per the instruction sheet) Use a delco distributor cap and rotor and drive it another 20,000 miles ........
AND send me the spare change you have left after NPT buying the msd unit....

 

I have ran both early dist and MSD's, both have there places but I do wish MSD would offer a dark maroon or black cap for the vintage crowd and the billet part is a easy fix. They do look out of place on a traditional engine bay, and with a resident expert, GMC Bubba, a reman unit is a viable option for that very reason.

 

Go with the original.

 

I'm not too fussed with keeping the engine looking original, I'm gradually giving the car a mild custom look, thinking of re spraying it next summer, lowering the back, fitting some functioning lake pipes, and at some point want to fit 3 strombergs on.

 

MSD does offer this cap

http://www.msdperformance.com/Produ...tors/8437_-_MSD_Chevy_V8_Distributor_Cap.aspx

and this one

http://www.msdperformance.com/Produ...tributor_Cap_and_Rotor,_MSD/GM_V8_Points.aspx

looking at their website it looks like the chevy cap can be used on quite a few of their distributors.

 

I simply paint the caps whatever color I want for the traditional look.

 

X2 with Bubba on keeping the Delco. Just give it points, condensor, rotor, cap, wires and plugs.

The MSD is just bling, not better.

jack vines