I had trouble with my car running really bad but thought it was the carb or a clogged fuel line.

I blew air through the lines, pulled the tank to check the tank screen, replaced all the rubber lines & fuel pump with no change. Tonight I tried a different carb & still the same.

I pulled the MSD Street Fire distributor #8362 that had only been in the car about 2 weeks & only driven about 10 miles when it started runnung bad. I though it was a fuel problem because it was backfiring & acting like the car was running out of gas

Has anyone had an issue with these distributors? I used the same cap coil & plug wires so it must be something in the distributor. Should I send it back under warranty or just use a different brand?

Unless your are doing serious racing a stock HEI distributor is everything you need.

Have you verified the static ignition timing at idle, and at upper rpm to check the distributor advance? The distributor might have lost a spring under the rotor, or the mechanical advance become stuck somehow. The vacuum advance can might also be stuck in position or developed a leak.

I have the same model 8362 and have had absolutely no problems with it for years.