Back in the day, a breaker-points ignition system regulated by a mechanical distributor was what controlled engine timing. While that system worked o.k. for its era, “points” ignitions are now very much out-of-date and an upgrade to an electronically-controlled ignition system can make a night-and-day difference in your vehicle’s performance and reliability. (By the late
I have a 302 Ford in my street rod and have been using the Mallory Unilite distributor for years. Lately it’s been acting up and I can’t buy parts for this system anymore. What would be a good replacement for my small block? K.S. Jeff Smith: The answer is a little bit like the question
In the latest quick tech tip video from Power Nation and Summit Racing, tech expert and OnAllCylinders contributor Jeff Smith will help you properly match your camshaft gear to your distributor gear to avoid excessive wear and broken parts. Generally: Cast iron flat tappet cams = Cast iron distributor gear Steel roller tappet cams =
MSD makes a high-end, high-performance distributor for almost every modern engine still in use. Using a Chevy V8—arguably the most popular conversion engine in use today—as the example, we pulled the OEM distributor and installed an MSD unit with selectable vacuum advance to show you how it’s done. We swapped his particular engine into our Jeep
Got questions? We’ve got the answers—the Summit Racing tech department tackles your automotive-related conundrums. This week, we find possible causes and cures for engine hesitation. R.H. Grand Rapids, MI Q: I have a 1979 Trans Am powered by a 406 small block Chevy. The engine has 9.67:1 compression, GM cast iron cylinder heads with Crane
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