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.

56 VIC  Gene Stoehr Sr.

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.


Lawrenceville, GA

.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.

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.

Glen Henderson



Freedom is not Free

Letohatchee, AL

Glen,

        Why's your distributor at Ted's?? What are you up to?

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

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

  JUST A MIDNIGHT CRUISE DOWN THUNDER ROAD!!! TOM DRUMMOND MIDWEST DIRECTOR 57 FORD INTERNATIONAL

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.

56 VIC  Gene Stoehr Sr.

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.

Glen Henderson



Freedom is not Free

Letohatchee, AL

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.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

 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. 

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart)