I'm looking to upgrade/update my ignition kit. Has anyone ever used or can anyone recommend a nice set up for my 71cutlass 350. But I can't find a streetfire fitment for a 71 or are they basically universal?? Thanks 4 any help

 

The streetfire distributor is not bad for an import, mine has worked flawlessly for 3 years. It has a decent curve however if your maxing your initial timing I'd recommend installing the supplied vacuum advance stop to keep your total timing with vacuum in check.

 

This is one of the best distributors on the market for our cars:
https://www.msdperformance.com/produ...ile/parts/8529
There is no Olds HEI available through MSD.

 

Yup just noticed that. The distributor that distributorguy recommends although pricey is very good but if your budgeting for less there are suitable alternatives.

I know that Coppercutlass is using a Proform HEI, others have used Pertronix HEI, DUI is good source and a few members recommend them. Some are finding and rebuilding old stock units from 76/77 years, and others buy parts store rebuilt replacement units from later years.

 

Parts store rebuilds from Cardone are really the lowest level of quality money can buy. You would be better off installing a used junkyard or Ebay find with a new pickup coil and module.
Proform distributors have their own set of issues as well. bad enough that the importers have sent me their distributors to diagnose the problems they are having, which can be repaired, but with more time than they are worth.
Pertronix distributors have the worst bushings.bearings money can buy, and their advance curves are +/- 20%, so you never know what you're going to get.
If you can't afford the MSD unit, then you definitely can't afford the DUI version. If you need to watch your pennies, buy the factory HEI and run it until it fails, then install new electrics for $60. Its a superior distributor to everything but the MSD, and it can be made to be superior to the MSD, without having to pay for a bunch of Chinese parts used in the DUI ($$$). I have my choice as a distributor repair guy, and I chose the factory HEI, because I can tune the advance curve. For those who can't, I recommend the MSD because they make changing the curve simple.

 

EDIT: It appears the website for Dave is not currently working. I'll try to contact him to see if he is still in business.


Send your stock distributor to Dave Ray - www.davessmallbodyheis.com He will TOTALLY rebuild it, recurve it if needed/wanted, and set it up to either use an externally-mounted HEI module or an aftermarket ignition box. Cheaper than an MSD, too.


Also worth noting, MSD has been sold several times in the last few years. It is now owned by the people who also bought Holley. MSD stuff used to be primarily made in El Paso, now it mostly imported Chinese stuff.


I spent two days last week at Comp Cams. They now employee some MSD and Holley people, and are offering a lot more ignition components through Comp's FAST fuel injection brand. Lifetime warranty on much of it.

 

Yes, FAST just acquired the Crane electronic ignition brand. Decent stuff, hopefully they can improve upon it.
Yes, Holley bought MSD, who bought Mallory. ALL are made overseas, but the MSD brand is highly modified and very good quality. Its not like the Procomp stuff AT ALL. Roller upper bearings, hard coated shafts, hardened advance weights, etc... Well thought out and well supervised construction.
If Dave is no longer building distributors, I do a solid 1500 per year.

 

Just a note on one other high quality Olds HEI style distributor that is overlooked & I don't know availability or price these days.


Mallory 75 Series, I think the # is 7563401. Billet, bearings, nearly infinite mech advance, rate & limit, Hyfire module w/ limiter, has vac can. Best set up on machine or out of the block as it isn't really easy to work on the advance w/ dist in rear of engine. Advance components are located in the bottom of the bowl & you set the limit w/ "gap keys" which are varying thickness plastic gauges. Don't know if it's the best but it is surely a nice unit.

Back when I bought one it was slightly less money than The MSD RTR mentioned but it was bought right & inflation probably hasn't been kind.


I would love to see MSD or whoever makes the electronic mapped distributors - simulated mech & vac curves you select. I installed one in friends BBC & thought it was the cat's ***.

 

MSD extinguished Mallory January 2015.

 

So my old Mallory HEI may soon be a collector piece...

 

...unless Holley, who bought MSD, brings Mallory back. They likely will, once the sticker shock from the MSD purchase wears off, but that could be years down the road.
There are still plenty of Mallory distributors sitting on shelves, even after nearly 2 years out of business. Truth is, MSD makes a better HEI, OEM is better yet. The early rough-cast Mallory distributors with 3-piece caps are actually getting collectible. The rest, well, as collectible as a factory HEI... lol

 

Note that it was the investment company that bought MSD, who also bought and killed Mallory. And the investment group that bought Holley now has MSD, hence Mallory. No telling WHAT they are going to do!


CompCams is still privately owned. Through their FAST brand, they have a lot of new ignition stuff coming out. They have new HEI's for Chevy's, and HEI parts as well. No BOP stuff, other than their Dual-Sync EFI distributor for now, though.

 

The "investment company" is Holley Performance Products. They bought an investment group called "The MSD Group" which included many brands like Accel, Mallory, Lakewood, Superchip, blah blah blah. Which is exactly what I said. Holley bought MSD. Since I have a little bit of an inside track, I have a solid idea of what they are going to do, as mentioned above. This is my life - I deal with distributors day in and day out and know the aftermarket world and all the things you don't read about in Hotrod, Car Craft, and the paid advertisements. That's also why I don't have high hopes for FAST.

 

I have a Mallory breakerless distributor, OK but they have their good and bad. I am going to get a Hyfire 6AL box for it before they disappear for racing. The MSD stuff is not perfect either, corrosion issues inside for years and guys racing are having big issues with center button in the cap wearing off quick or the cap melting. Quality of electronics are hit and miss from everyone. I plan carrying all the starting, charging, cooling fan module and ignition parts spare in trunk for my 70 in case anything flakes out. This stuff is no longer carried everywhere like it used to be just a few years ago.

 

Nothing is perfect. The factory HEI is the most durable, the MSD gives the cleanest signal at all rpms. Mallory works, but there are tons of counterfeit garbage parts (and complete on the market, which is what happens when you manufacture 100% in China. The same things goes for the MSD 6A/L boxes. You want a great CD box? Winterburn Ignition! Hand made in Canada, even has a bypass switch if you need it.
Pick what you want. They'll likely all work, some significantly better than others.

 

http://www.jegs.com/i/MSD-Ignition/121/5520K/10002/-1

I guess I'm going to order this set up. It doesn't say that it fits my car but it's for a small Block gm. Hope I don't run into to many issues or problems. I'm not a master mechanic but it shouldn't be to tough rite guys?? Thanks for the help

 

Fwiw i have had my proform unit for almost 8 years in service. The only thing i had done was i had it curved for my set up 2 years ago and that was all. I think i got my money's worth out of it. I know not all units ar created equally but it hs worked reliably. Same goes for the cheap 50 dollar procomp unit i have in my dads olds powered pontiac. Its been good.

I think im going to upgrade to a DUI unit soon enough .

 

That kit is for a chevy looks like.

 

Yea, I think you are rite. I'm not to computer suave but how is this distributor with the street fire box and accessories

 

https://www.msdperformance.com/produ...ile/parts/8529

 

71Cutty, that'll only work if you have a Chevy motor. Don't over complicate this. You need an Olds distributor. The more electric things you bolt it it, the more issues you will have.

*edit*
Looks like we posted at the same time. That's the one, and you need a matching coil. Same Ohms, not necessarily the same brand. Summit lists the coil specs where others don't so if you want a specific brand, their site is the most helpful.

 

If you get this your going to need a coil also.

 

I agree on the overseas stuff, very hit and miss. The only reason I am going with the Mallory box, it has wiring instructions to work with my distributor. Have you ever tried the Ignitor 3 module for GM HEI? I had a 15 year old big MSD HEI module die this year. I might throw it in this 260 distributor, which has the fastest curve I have ever seen in a HEI. My other HEI's, no matter what springs never pulled full timing till 3000 rpm. This one with lighter springs has about 10 degrees mechanical at idle, the 260 loves it. That Winterburn CDI looks great for points or converted to Pertronix cars, will it work with say a HEI or my Breakerless?

 

If you're going to spend $$$ on an HEI module, don't bother with Pertronix. I do have a Crane module here to try with a built-in rev limiter, but its a moot point now that FAST bought Crane. Who knows if future offerings will be the same?

As far as the Mallory, I'd just skip it. The fact that it has instructions is not testament to quality or function. You're still handicapped by the HEI pickup and the advance curve.

 

I'm finishing up a 350 build and elected to go with a Pertronix Ignitor III HEI p/n D7110700 - it's a ready to run unit with the small-style points cap. I'm coupling it to an MSD blaster coil and connecting everything with an MSD 8.5mm wire set.


The distributor cost $254 through Advance Auto Parts after a 30% discount.


Had considered going with a factory-style HEI unit but didn't want to run into firewall clearance/adjustability issues.

 

I have the Mallory Breakerless to go with the Mallory 6AL box, I plan on buying. I can throw any curve I want in it, it will go in my future race car. The HEI ignitor 3 module is much cheaper than the other modules with similar features but they don't have multi spark. I plan on keeping the stock module in the trunk along with many other parts in case for my 70.

 

Lincolnshire Equity bought Holley Performance in 2013. They bought it from Monomoy Capital, who bought it the year before for Kohlberg & Co.

 

Both MSD and Holley had been bought out of bankruptcy by private investors in the last 5 years. Its no different from you saying that you own your house and your car, not the bank who holds the mortgage or the title. In the big picture, business carries on just like it did before.