Justin86camaro

ok i'm hoping yall can help me find a good dist. i now have an accel hei. it never seems to set right or have the advance curve thats set on it. i'm looking at getting away from the hei style to an msd digital or regular style electronic pickup. i would like the digital e curve because the simplicity of setting curves on it, but at the same time i'd like to keep it old school with weights and springs. i am willing to go both ways and to any brand. i was just wanting to get some input from people who have used or know people well that have one. thanks justin

Apeiron

I've got the MSD E-curve, because I never want to have to spin up a distributor on the distributor machine again. A friend has the Crane equivalent, which is also a nice piece but is only a magnetic trigger for a box.

Justin86camaro

how is setting the curves on it. easy as it says?

Apeiron

MSD has the installation instructions online at http://www.msdignition.com/pdf/frm26...94_e_curve.pdf

You can select 10 to 25 degrees of advance in 5 degree increments, and you can select full advance to come in at 2000 to 3500 RPM in 500 RPM increments. Or you can also choose to lock the advance at 25 degrees, with a start-retard of 5 to 20 degrees in 5 degree increments. There are also 5 selectable vacuum advance curves available.

All the controls for programming are under the cap. To program the advance, you choose the curves you want from the charts provided, look up the switch settings in the tables, and set two small rotary switches. The rev limit is set by turning a small potentiometer. It's not really possible to adjust the rev limit precisely due to the size of the control, so if you wanted an exact rev limit setting you'd probably need an external box.

Justin86camaro

thanks i appreciate the help

Justin86camaro

anyone else have any comments on your preference dist.

sleeper84

iTrader: (1)

Accel's drop in GM HEI. comes with mechanical advance kit and adjustable vacume advance canister. easy to do! comes with complete instructions. around $100 at your local parts store. i've used 3 of them to date. one in my own camaro, one in a buddies 350 powered land cruiser and one in my brothers truck. just add a coil and coil cover, preset the vacume advance, drop it in. a little tinkering to get the optimal curve and your off. mines been in 2 motors to date and hasn't missed a lick. i'd also reccomend the accel coil for it. another $50 but its worth it. i switched while my motor was still open headdered and you could tell the difference in the exhaust note.

a little advice, put the allen wrench in the glove box until you think its as good as it gets....

Justin86camaro

thanks, well i'm glad to see you have had good luck with the accel but thats what i'm trying to get away from.

89redliningRS

I just dropped in the JEG's Street Performance HEI dist. Great value, for only $124 it looks great. Nice machine work on the shaft and the overall construction of it looks top notch. Looks just like a MSD.

Justin86camaro

this also follows along, like i said i have an accel hei if i were to switch to the externally mounted coil would the hei wires work the same with that style male terminal? i believe they do but i figured i would check with yall. the jegs dist. comes with a curve kit and vac advance?

89redliningRS

It has vacum advance but I don't see a way to get a curve kit for it. Maybe MSD would work on it?

sleeper84

iTrader: (1)

the adjustment in the vac. advance is inside, put an allen wrench in the hose nipple and you should hit a little screw that will turn, changing the stop point and adjusting total timing..... the only reason i'm thinking bout taking mine out is that i'm going to have to have a small dist cap if i use a tunnel ram....

Apeiron

No, that adjusts the vacuum advance rate, not the total vacuum advance.

sleeper84

iTrader: (1)

funny....when i turn it, my total timing goes up or down...........(have timing light and yes, i know how to use it......) and its the method i've used to tune all 3 i've used...... plus a few adjustable canisters i've put on other vehicles.

Justin86camaro

not to call bs on anyone but i believe there is no adjustable rate. its the total advance so you don't run to much or not enough at cruise. thats the most critical time for the vacuum advance. i have always tuned my vacuum advance so i have a slight knock at cruise, then turn it back some.

Justin86camaro

ok i rounded up the money for the msd digital e curve and it works awesome. i set it at 12 degrees base and with a quick curve the car ran so much better and smoother. i used the msd blaster 3 coil with it as well. the product is very well made. their craftsmanship shows, and is much better than accel.

Apeiron

It will appear that way if you slow the vacuum advance rate so that it isn't fully advanced at your idle vacuum.
----------
Try using one of the locked-out advance settings to set the total timing to 34 degrees, and then set the rate.