MSD Marine distributor

As most of you know, I'm a huge fan of MSD distributors and ignitions as I've been running one in my boat for well over a decade. I had it installed in my engine before my rebuild and reused it after.
MSD is good but you needed the distributor and the ignition box to make everything work in perfect harmony.

I was on MSD's website and I found this .
It's a ready to run distributor that includes the ignition box built into the distributor!!! No more stand alone box to hook up. Just drop the distributor in the engine and hook up three wires. Includes a completely adjustable advance setup which I can tell you is a breeze to adjust.

I know several here are DUI fanatics but this MSD unit looks to be the cats nuts and available for SBF and SBC marine engines. Anyone looking to replace a distributor should definitely give this some consideration.

It's cool to see a new marine distributor.
I looked around the web site, didn't see any SBF Windsor stuff
STD. or R/R ?

TRBenj wrote: Eddie, where do you see the application for the SBF (presumably 302 and/or 351w)? I only see the 351C/460.

Damn Tim, I just saw the 351/460 and assumed it was the Windsor. That's what I get for assuming. Think it might be a typo? Seeing as there are probably very few 460 marine engines out there in the overall scheme of things and even fewer 351C marine applications (like none that were ever marinized that I'm aware of) it just doesn't make sense to me that they have a distributor for those engines and not a Windsor. Maybe those engines use the same distributor by default?

uhh..ski partner..do I need one of these? And if so..will you put it on? If I remember correctly you have a "MDS" thing mounted to your motor box..which is somewhere I never go without adult supervision.

john

edit: just went to your link..how hard can this be? only 3 wires!

The distributor that you're talking about does have a Cleveland gear and as was said before all you have to do is swap the gear for windsor gear and you're good to go. It does run fine without the ignition box but if you use the msd box you gain the multiple sparks. With the just the distributor you get single sparks. I've used my mine with and without the box and it works great either way but I have the box hooked up in the boat because I like having mtiple sparks. Better idle and more power down low is what they say.

kytom2 wrote: That's 2 too many for you Jbear!

In John's defence,it's not the number of wires he'd have trouble with, it's what he'd do with that one extra wire after he's spliced up the pair

Not sure if any OEMs marinized them, but the Aussies have been doing it. Clevelands are basically as plentiful there as Windsors are here. I know there are some companies that specialize in marine conversion parts for them, such as these:

http://www.kmrolco.com/Price_List.html

http://www.cassellmarine.com.au/c/217788/1/velvet-drive-conversion.html

Putting Cleveland heads on a Windsor block (a Clevor) used to be the hot setup before everyone started making aftermarket Windsor heads. The big valves and sewer pipe-sized ports make for a pretty high winding motor. They're not too common nowadays because the Windsor heads have gotten so good it's not worth the extra effort, especially just to use heavy iron castings.

I just talked with MSD tech support and he confirmed what Joe and wholman have stated. Change the gear and the 351C/460 unit would work in the Windsor. I asked if there has ever been discussion about making a Windsor distributor available and he said they ask the question to R&D constantly. The R&D guys must know something we don't. Maybe you Ford guys need to come to your senses and get into bowties

Still would be a nice replacement even if you need to change gears. Definitely worth looking into anyway.

backfoot100 wrote: Your boat runs too good with points. If the distributor ever decides to give up the ghost, we'll talk. If it aint broke, don't fix it.

now this is the kind of engine talk I can understand....

9am saturday morning date?



john

seacamper wrote: So Eddie, I STILL have the minor stumble under a heavy load in the 75 SN. I have got to think that it is the distributor/points at this point, and after checking compression, timing, dwell, etc, I am thinking it is weak spark induced by 40+ year old distributor/weights/springs/moving parts. What do you think about this upgrade? MSD

Hi

I'm not Eddie (he's better looking than me ) but if you read back thru this thread and look at your link, you'll see that it has the wrong gear for a 351 Windsor.

It's got a gear for a LH rotation 351w/429/460 Ford.

You would need a gear for a RH rotation 351 Windsor. Pretty sure MSD doesn't make one of them

You'll probably have a few people telling you to get a DUI distributor cause they think it's the best thing since sliced bread and then Pete will jump in and make a point about keeping points in it.

KenO

So I am assuming I would order the "351 W 7000 rpm Reverse Rotation" distributor, and it will be a crap shoot on whether it will fit??

DUI

I am interested in "vabration proofing" my distributor.

The DUI Advantage
Virtually Waterproof
Vabration Proof
Fully Electronic
One Wire Hookup
7000 and 10,000 RPM Versions

KENO wrote: seacamper wrote: So Eddie, I STILL have the minor stumble under a heavy load in the 75 SN. I have got to think that it is the distributor/points at this point, and after checking compression, timing, dwell, etc, I am thinking it is weak spark induced by 40+ year old distributor/weights/springs/moving parts. What do you think about this upgrade? MSD Hi I'm not Eddie (he's better looking than me ) but if you read back thru this thread and look at your link, you'll see that it has the wrong gear for a 351 Windsor. It's got a gear for a LH rotation 351w/429/460 Ford. You would need a gear for a RH rotation 351 Windsor. Pretty sure MSD doesn't make one of them You'll probably have a few people telling you to get a DUI distributor cause they think it's the best thing since sliced bread and then Pete will jump in and make a point about keeping points in it. But anyways,depending on shaft size and mounting hole location in the gears, your old gear might fit and be at the right depth...........or maybe not KenO

Whew, back from a week of vacation and trying to get back into the routine.

+1 on what Ken said.

The MSD would work but you'll need to find a RH gear and MSD doesn't offer one. The good news is that we have this local machine guy that's pretty good whom you also know. I would bet my next paycheck that he can make your old gear fit perfectly on any dizzy you decide to put in. MSD or DUI. That is unless the old gear is damaged in any way.
I'm pretty biased toward the MSD but the DUI is obviously very proven. The only plus I see with the MSD is that the advance curve is completely adjustable to how you and the boat want it. The DUI isn't. I think the MSD would probably not experience the diameter fitment issues that several here have experienced either. If you're willing to be a test mule and knowing we have a good machinist at our disposal, I'd be very willing to help you help you try one out.

That is a bummer about the hesitation. I know you've tried two or three different carbs, a complete tune up and checking over everything else you can think of.

TRBenj wrote: First of all, I'm not convinced the dizzy/points are your source of hesitation out of the hole. That is more likely to be a fuel issue from my experience... And I know of many points boats that jump out of the water.

I think the same thing as TRB on this but it sounds like you want a new distributor. May not help but it can't hurt.

I had a stumble when I would give it hard throttle from idle. Rebuilt carb knowing it was the accelerator pump. Hmm, same stumble. Even switched to another carb I had. Same stumble. Hmm again. Check timing and found that initial was OK but the total timing was not consistent. It would either not come in or come in late. Went to MSD dizzy and it was fixed. Had to replace gear with a new one as stated before. Three wire hook up was a breeze. One to coil, one to ground, and one to key 12 volt hot. Total advance is adjustable also. One can argue points or EI all they want but try to buy a new internal combustion engine with points. Good luck with that. Everybody changed over for a reason.

(Am not a fan of EI conversion modules that you drop into a points dizzy. They tend to be flakey)
This should open a can of worms.