I have this dist from a 93 caprice TBI motor, no vac advance. I want to install it in a 78 truck (Off Road) and use a blaster 5 MSD box and a MSD-8861 harness, W/coil.
Will this work? or do I need to do something (send it off) to the dist to make this work?
Isn't there a guy on TC that rebuilds the smaller HEI from MD?

Steve

no, it won't work that way. That distributor has no advance of any kind. To use it you'd have to have some kind of ignition computer that could sense RPM and manifold vacuum to provide the advance.

Ok then I need the 8980 fixed curve timing computer.

Or the marine module intended for the small-diameter HEI. It has a "centrifugal advance" curve built-in. Has NO provision for "vacuum advance" so overall, this'd be a poor choice for street use. Fine for many boats and cars that run WFO a lot. You wouldn't need the MSD stuff; but you will need a special wiring harness plug to set base timing--unless you're willing to experiment.

The module is available from Delco; or from NAPA. Price is about the same either way at least around here. No doubt other parts stores can get it, too--CarQuest, O'Reilies, etc. but I haven't checked to be sure. I don't know of ANY place that sells the special harness plug for setting base timing, except that it's included in the marine distributor kit from Delco--if you can find one. I think I got the last BBC kit about a year ago. The SBC kit is identical except the coil has a different mounting bracket--but the SBC kit may also be very scarce by now.

Oh, yeah--one more thing. Be careful connecting an MSD-5 to a HEI. It's not recommended by MSD; at least for the older HEI systems--and when I ignored that advice and used on on my '88 work truck (same small-diameter HEI system as what you want to use) --including the MSD wiring harness adapter--it lasted about a month before dying. Perhaps they cannot handle the low-resistance of the HEI coils. Or--maybe it was just old and ready to die anyway. I'd had it since '78 or so.

Steve,

Is this what you were thinking of:

http://www.davessmallbodyheis.com/

one small detail no one knows about the early 90's Caprice TBI distributors is that they require an intake manifold with a larger hole in it for the distributor- they did that because the cowl hangs way over the distributor on those cars, and if you put a regular distributor in it, you'll never be able to get it out of there with the engine in the car. the bigger hole allows the distributor to tip forward enough as you pull it out to actually get it out of there. i learned this when i tried to replace the distributor in my 92 Caprice with a unit out of an 87 TBI pickup. i put the pickup distributor in it, and realized it was 1/2" smaller than the hole in the intake.
so, even if you could use that distributor, the only intake you'd be able to use would be a TBI intake out of the same Caprice.

one small detail no one knows about the early 90's Caprice TBI distributors is that they require an intake manifold with a larger hole in it for the distributor
Thanks--first I've heard of that.

This app is an Off Road 4X4, I deceided to go with the whole set up from the 93 caprice, ( I didn't know about the intake hole ) Wiring harness, sensors,TBI everything, Piece of cake seeing I have a complete doner car. It would be alot cheaper too. Thanks for the replies gentlemen.

BTW; What happened to the ignition Guy Al ??

ignitionman got banned a long, long time ago. before i joined, i think.
he didn't play well with others, apparently.
i think he's still converting the old points distributors to HEI guts.

I've used a couple of his distributors, excellent product in every way.

Being polite about it, Dave has strong opinions about stuff and reacted poorly to anybody who didn't agree with him. The continual bitter arguments and belittling and etc and etc finally got him banned. Too bad, he had a lot to offer and could write about stuff well.

From what Dave says, and what I saw as a person that just read both boards back then, he was banned because he wanted e/mails that were supposedly sent from a person that stole his identity. He, and the admin here proved that Dave's identity was in fact, stolen. But when Dave asked for the e/mails to use, to go after the person that stole his identity, and sent the private e/mails, so his legal council could go after the guy, he got banned for asking for them, for his lawyer. Dave doesn't deny there were harassing personal e/mails sent with his name on them, but he proved it wasn't him that sent them, and proved who the person that did send them was, without question.

I remember the statement posted on the boards that stated after Dave's banning, "Dave is welcome here, his lawyer isn't!". His lawyer owns a Pontiac LeMans, and, I know him. His name is Terry Nelson. He has never visited the two Team sites to my knowledge.

I've known Dave for over 20 years, and he has strong opinions, that are right on target in every situation I have ever seen him involved in, and, when he is attacked, he defends himself. Others can't take the truth, or a straight answer, so he gets banned, or he decides it just isn't worth trying to get the right information past the attackers for someone to use, and leaves a site, with the ones that attacked him, remaining.

Now, you can believe what you want, but I, for one, believe Dave, period. As I said, I KNOW the man, and he isn't the bad guy most of you make him out to be. And, in my opinion, he didn't deserve to get banned. I know for a fact that a large number of members from both the Team boards stay in touch with Dave off the boards. So, if he were such a bad guy, a person would expect that NO-ONE would stay in contact with him.

It is very nice for all of you to be able to post whatever you wish about Dave over and over again, true or false, as he is not allowed here, not able to defend himself. I am sure all of you would expect the exact same treatment given to Dave, if the tables were turned on you.

Regards,

Milton

Even though Dave didn't know me from Adam, he was nice enough to respond to my e-mails about timing issues with my ZZ4, and even sent me detailed instructions on how to modify my existing distributor even though that would cost him a sale. And while I didn't end up making the mods he suggested due to my shop equipment limitations, the timing curve he suggested was dead on for my '72 Malibu ZZ4 combination. So, while he isn't on here, e-mail him with your questions, I think you will be happy with the answers.

one small detail no one knows about the early 90's Caprice TBI distributors is that they require an intake manifold with a larger hole in it for the distributor- they did that because the cowl hangs way over the distributor on those cars, and if you put a regular distributor in it, you'll never be able to get it out of there with the engine in the car. the bigger hole allows the distributor to tip forward enough as you pull it out to actually get it out of there. i learned this when i tried to replace the distributor in my 92 Caprice with a unit out of an 87 TBI pickup. i put the pickup distributor in it, and realized it was 1/2" smaller than the hole in the intake.
so, even if you could use that distributor, the only intake you'd be able to use would be a TBI intake out of the same Caprice.

I wondered what those distributors fit. I ended up with one. It took a few minutes on the lathe to make it fit the small hole manifold.

Milton, first of all I don't know what Dave told you but you are totally wrong about the reason(s) Dave got banned. :yes:

Secondly, I didn't see anyone say anything about Dave that was bad, where is it?

All the truth of it, as I know it, is from the e/mails between Al and him, was and is EXACTLY the way I described above, which I do know NONE of you saw. I used to visit Dave in is shop as much as possible when he still lived here in So. Cal., and I see him from time to time when I travel to No. Nevada. I learned a lot from him, still do, and I KNOW THE MAN PERSONALLY, you all don't.

As far as other reasons he got banned, he has never lied to me, and, as I said, I SAW the back and forth on this, and I KNOW what went down, no matter what you and others may believe.

"Being polite about it, Dave has strong opinions about stuff and reacted poorly to anybody who didn't agree with him. The continual bitter arguments and belittling and etc and etc finally got him banned. Too bad, he had a lot to offer and could write about stuff well.".

THIS is what I refer to. If the person you are flaming cannot defend himself, for what ever reason don't say anything, period. As a person that read this, and the Camaro sites when Dave was posting, I NEVER saw him do anything other than defend himself, EVER.

My observation is, it is too bad a few people chose to get upset that their flames weren't just accepted, and that the person they were flaming chose to defend himself. He does have years and years of help he could have given, if people had just listened, and not came up with every hair brained fix that didn't work, then got on his case for trying to help. I see a lot of topics and posts that are way off beat as far as workable and correct info here even today, and the same people that flamed Dave, still here, still vending out less than workable fixes. Too bad, this, and the other site are great sites, save for the people that are giving info that just doesn't work, and flaming people that try to help.

Now, I am done with this, and as I said, I was there when it all went down, and know just what the reason was. Too bad Dave didn't save the e/mails through all this back then, it would have told a completely different story than some would have people here believe.

Also, if Dave sees this, I am sure I will get scolded for defending him, as he just feels it was all useless bull under the bridge. I do not think he would come back to these sites even if he were asked to do so. He doesn't hold any bad feelings towards anyone here, he just won't put up with the flames and other crap thrown at him for trying to get the right info past the others that don't want it posted.

I do know that if you call him directly, or e/mail him, Dave will help you, without the people on the sites giving him any crap and bull, the same way Dave helped tpshea above. That IS the way the Dave Ray is, not the way some of you make him out to be.

I'm done, flame away.

Regards,

Milton

Oh I'm sure Dave IS a sweetheart in real life and again I don't believe anyone ever said he was a bad person.

I don't doubt that you may know a part of what happened but only a small part of the reason(s).
I was here in the middle of it and saw it all.

But anyway that's all water under the bridge now and has been for quite a while so there is really no sense in bringing all back up again.
Lets just drop the subject, OK?

>> "I'm done, flame away."

Can't seem to find my lighter. :) As always, you're entitled to your point of view and your opinion, and so am I and everyone else. If you're unable to accept that others may have perceived the deal differently then you, well, good luck with that.

>> "I do know that if you call him directly, or e/mail him, Dave will help you, without the people on the sites giving him any crap and bull, the same way Dave helped tpshea above. That IS the way the Dave Ray is, not the way some of you make him out to be."

Totally agree, my own experience as well.

By now it's well established that the keyboard persona and the real world nature of people are sometimes not real similar. See, for instance, Racer1320s posts on this board. Sometimes a guy just has to accept people as they are, that's OK, but if the situation deteriorates into disruptive stuff constantly, somebody could get banned.

Jeez, Dean types faster. I'm at work, had to actually do some work stuff while Dean was posting. That whole work thing really cuts into my free time. :)