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By Rudder2fly - 16 Years Ago
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I bought a new MSD 8383 Dist. and would like to ask the forum about side and vertical movement of the gear driven shaft? I measure .035 vertical movement and at least .125 side movement. Also the shaft below the gear measures .450 and is smaller by .004 than the used Ford distributor I removed from the engine. Comments would be appreciated.
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By charliemccraney - 16 Years Ago
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The vertical sounds about right, based on a stock distributor. The side to side seems excessive. It should barely be perceptible, if you can even detect it at all. So, if you hold the distributor body in one hand and grab the gear with the other, you can wiggle the shaft side to side by about 1/8"?
The .004" difference should be of no concern. If I'm not mistaken, it's not a bearing surface or something similar where the dimension is critical.
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By Speedbump - 16 Years Ago
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.035 seems OK for vertical movement. If you're rebuilding a distributor you can shim the gear tighter against the housing for less movement but there needs to be some and the thrust of the gear as it turns usually takes out the slop anyway. I personally think the .125 is a little excessive for lateral movement even though they will surely say as long as the trigger wheel and pick up don't hit, it is OK. I would expect there to be virtually zero lateral movement in that unit and I'd probably take it back, but I'm saying that without actually looking at it. If you pay for a name brand and for quality, you should expect to get it, IMO.
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By Glen Henderson - 16 Years Ago
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I have a new one, but it is out at Ted's place in TX. Maybe he can check it and let you know. Sounds as if yours needs to go back to MSD.
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By pegleg - 16 Years Ago
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Glen, Why's your distributor at Ted's?? What are you up to?
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By ecode ragtop - 16 Years Ago
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YOU KNOW FRANK, THAT SAME THOUGHT POPPED INTO MY HEAD! WHAT IS GLEN UP TO. I GUESS WE WILL FIND OUT, I SEEN GLEN AND TED SNEAKING SOME PARTS FROM ONE TRUCK TO THE OTHER IN THE DARK OF THE NIGHT, AT COLUMBUS. TOM
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By Rudder2fly - 16 Years Ago
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I have these same questions in at the MSD Tech Dept right now. We will see what they say. I checked the Ford distriburor again. it's a single diaphram unit, probably a 1959 unit, and it has very little side play. I believe this unit will be going back to MSD. At $360.00 I was shocked to see that shaft move like it does! G.S.
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By Glen Henderson - 16 Years Ago
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Frank and Tom I got tired of trying to explain what a y block is and what I want done to these local scrub loving machine shops. Ted is going to build a motor for the Falcon next spring. I made a trip out there a couple weeks ago with some blocks and heads. We finalized the plans, still have to gather a few more parts on my end and of course figure out how I'm going to talk my wife out of the money. Ted's plan includes some things that he learned from the EMC project and sounds very exciting. I may wind up with more motor than I can handle with the little Falcon since I haven't been on a drag strip in over forty years.
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By Ted - 16 Years Ago
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Glen’s MSD distributor has 0.026” end play and 0.015” lateral movement measured at the bottom bushing. I have a new old stock iron distributor for a Y truck and the lateral movement on it measured 0.008”. The lateral movement of each was measured with a dial indicator on the shaft at bottom of the distributor housing. I’m getting ready to order another 8383 MSD so I’ll check it in regards to lateral movement also when it arrives.
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By pegleg - 16 Years Ago
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[b]Glen Henderson I may wind up with more motor than I can handle with the little Falcon since I haven't been on a drag strip in over forty years. That should be a ride if you can get it hook! How's your heart!!!? Rudder2fly, send it back and tell them why. That will break caps and rotors, not cool.
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By Glen Henderson - 16 Years Ago
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Hearts fine, just don't know about the reflexs. It should hook, 30X10 M&H's, 4.56 gears w/spool, my own homemade superstock leaf springs with floaters and 42" ladder bars. With the front straght axle, I just don't know if it will go in a straght line. May have to let you do the shake down runs!
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By Rudder2fly - 16 Years Ago
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Just a update to the status of my MSD 8383. MSD Tech Dept said the norm of clearence is .010 to .015 in the vertical and side to side movement. I have nearly twice that in the distributor I bought. They are having me ship the distributor back them. We will see what they find!
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By pegleg - 16 Years Ago
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Rudder2 Based on my own personal experience with them, they'll make it right. Please let us know what transpires.
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By John Mummert - 16 Years Ago
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The lateral movement might not be as important as it sounds. The lower support is in the block, below the gear. Ford made the bushing in the dist body fairly long so they feel tight out of the engine. Perhaps MSD has a bearing near the top and they are relying on the shaft below the gear for the lower bearing. Also the cam gear driving the dist gear forces it down against the block register so the end play is not terribly critical as long as it has some. Having said all that the lateral movment does sound excessive.
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By Rudder2fly - 16 Years Ago
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Here is the latest on the MSD 8383. I received an E-mail on my initial inquiry to MSD that stated the vertical and side movement should be no more than .010 to .015 and the distributor had two bearings. This was corrected with a phone call from MSD. I was told the distributor has only one bearing up in the housing and nothing as the shaft exits the lower housing. I received the distributor today with a sheet that says it meets all their specs. So John M. is correct, they are using the block as the lower bearing surface. I guess shaft wobble is not as important in a pointless distributor!!!! I'm still disappointed as I believe this unit is overpriced for what I got.
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