Our new MSD Billet drop-in...
Our new MSD Billet drop-in distributor is shown here. It provides a powerful inductive spark of long duration. The standard iron gear is seen in the package, as we had MSD install the required steel gear at the factory. Also shown is an included package of gear break-in lube. Imperative with an iron cam, it's a good idea to use on your steel roller cam as well.
When we last left our '64 Ranchero, the B-50 short-block-based engine inside was moving along toward completion. One area of this project we hadn't discussed was the ignition. Our old Ford point-type distributor was all we had on hand, but this wouldn't work unless we changed the distributor drive gear to steel to be compatible with the new roller-cam-equipped engine. All new Ford short-blocks, and any '85 or newer 302 engine you're liable to find in a boneyard, will be roller-cam-equipped. The steel cam in these engines will chew up your stock distributor's iron gear in short order, so any of you going over to a newer engine will face this problem.
Initially, we simply installed a steel gear on our point-and-condenser distributor from a 289 and installed the unit. It wasn't long before we decided that a brand new roller engine deserved better than the headaches you're bound to encounter with an old-style mechanical distributor. Wandering dwell readings and fried points were just two of the headaches we wished to avoid. After some serious searching, we came up with an '85 one-year-only Ford distributor made for the only year the roller engine was carburetor-equipped. All later Ford distributors were made to work on EFI engines. The '85 unit we found looked well worn. With its own electronic control box, we wondered if we might be trading one set of problems for another.
We finally decided to give the folks at MSD a call to see what they could recommend. The perfect answer for our needs came in the form of the MSD Billet stand-alone distributor for 289-302 Ford engines, PN 8352. For solid-state reliability, ease of installation, and great looks, the MSD Billet unit was a perfect choice. Built to work without an auxiliary ignition box and still provide the super-strong spark, the MSD Billet distributor is equipped with both a mechanical and vacuum advance for complete adjustability.
When you order your distributor, be sure to tell them which type of distributor drive gear you need, and your new unit will be equipped with the correct type of gear before shipping. This way, you won't have to chance damaging your distributor before you get it into the engine. To see how easy it was to get our new engine MSD-equipped, join us at the shop of J.P. Pretto of Apple Valley, California, and we'll show you how.
The MSD Blaster 3 coil is...
The MSD Blaster 3 coil is made to go along with the billet distributor and will provide plenty of punch.
A new set of MSD Super Conductor...
A new set of MSD Super Conductor spark-plug wires will round out our project and ensure that everything is new from rotor to spark plug.
These number tags were included...
These number tags were included with the wire set and help eliminate confusion when it comes time to route your wires.
Included in the distributor...
Included in the distributor kit are various weight springs for the mechanical or centrifugal timing advance. The black plastic part shown is for vacuum-advance lockout should you desire. Also shown is the O-ring for the distributor housing.
This '85-only Ford distributor...
This '85-only Ford distributor package took awhile to round up but, in the end, the well-worn look of things scared us away.
In the engine bay of our '64...
In the engine bay of our '64 Ranchero lives our B-50-based engine. It's shown with our breaker-point distributor in place. We did equip this unit with a steel gear but opted against the Flintstones-era technology.
Remove the distributor cap...
Remove the distributor cap and set it aside with wires still attached. Remove the distributor hold-down bolt as shown, taking the hold-down away with it.
We had our engine already...
We had our engine already at top dead center so now the old distributor comes away from the engine.
With the distributor out,...
With the distributor out, it's a good idea to close up the hole with a shop towel before something falls in. Next, the old voltage coil is removed from the engine.
We're pulling the cap off...
We're pulling the cap off our new MSD unit. The cap hold-downs are machined billet blocks held in place with Allen bolts. The whole unit has a bulletproof feel to it.
Inside, we can see the springs...
Inside, we can see the springs and weights for the mechanical advance. Changing the thickness of the springs adjusts the speed of the mechanical advance.
Using the old cap as a pattern,...
Using the old cap as a pattern, we exchange the old wires for new, one at a time. When complete, the old cap and wires were discarded, along with the old distributor.
Before dropping in the new...
Before dropping in the new MSD unit, be sure to install the included O-ring as shown or you'll have a serious oil leak.
Pointing our rotor at the...
Pointing our rotor at the number-one spot, we now drop the new MSD Billet distributor into position.
If the distributor is difficult...
If the distributor is difficult to seat, you may wish to try moving the crankshaft back and forth slightly. This should cause the new distributor to seat promptly. Check against the cap to make sure you're not "one tooth off."
It can be a challenge to get...
It can be a challenge to get the hold-down bolt restarted without dropping it onto the engine, but we finally managed. We're wondering whether we'll have interference problems between the vacuum-advance canister and the late-model thermostat housing/water neck when we time the engine. If so, we'll have to revert to the early style part.
Moving along, it's time to...
Moving along, it's time to install our new Blaster 3 coil. The instructions call for mounting the coil in the upright position.
When it's time to wire everything...
When it's time to wire everything together, follow this simple diagram and you can't go wrong. We wanted a straightforward and sanitary setup. We couldn't have asked for better than this.
A close-up of the simple harness...
A close-up of the simple harness shows the weatherproof plug and terminal eyes.
You can see we have our cap...
You can see we have our cap and wires installed and squared away. Now the plug connection is made and the wires routed down along the front of the cylinder head.
Using the diagram as a guide,...
Using the diagram as a guide, our connections at the coil were completed.
The coil wire was added. When...
The coil wire was added. When removing or attaching the plug wires, be sure to pull them off the cap or coil straight up to avoid the risk of breaking off a terminal point.
We connect our vacuum-advance...
We connect our vacuum-advance hose to a ported source above the throttle plate on the carb. At a later time, we'll decide which combination of advance control we'll use.
This photo shows our completed...
This photo shows our completed installation. The instructions include the correct wiring to incorporate an MSD 6A or other ignition box should we desire at a future time. We've used the MSD Billet distributor before and we know that when fire-up time comes, all we'll need to do is adjust our timing and we'll be up and running. Once our rig is on the street, we'll fine-tune our advance curve with the wide variety of options included.