[Amc-list] Dist, points, msd and other stuff

[amxron@xxxxxxxxxxx]

I've been away for a few days, didn't realize I had started a firestorm LOL. Thanks for your comments Frank.
The person asking the question orignally seemed to think a shiny new dist would add hp. It won't. I think the money ($300?) would be better spent on other things. Maybe it's because I have run NHRA stock class's since the 60's (yes i am old but, not senile!)in the early 70's I ran under the AMC factory racer program (70 AMX, D/Stock). The car is now an IHRA legal Pure/Stock and runs mid 12's. We ran points only in the 70's and I shifted at 6000 never had any point bounce and a friend w/an L88 shifted at 7500 w/a single point dist. i can show anyone what he did to his ign. We added a MSD6AL when they became legal. It only got me .005 ET but,the rev limiter was piece of mind. LOL. A sponsor gave me an ACCEL dist and it showed no gain at all. Could be because my car is a 4sp and never see's less than 4000 rpm so the dist curve means nothing, only total advance. Use a good coil, wires and curve for automatics and the street they do more than all that billet will ever do!
Point is (pun intended) spend the money on 1. exhaust 2. gear 3. cam/valvetrain (anyone who doesn't think the cam is the engines BRAIN needs to spend some time reading [Isky, Bruce Crower, Harvey Crane all explained it well]. All AMC stock cams are very mild and need lots of help (a 4* retard key will get you 10-15 hp for less than $20.) Roller rockers are another thing that should be way down the list (10 hp for $250 ugh!) 4. Headwork (although stock AMC V-8 ports are good to 6500 rpm) 3 angle, good springs and retainers. You can go fast and cheap in an AMC but, the aftermarket wants to sell you all the shiny go-fast stuff and the magazines push it. Personally if i couldn't make a 3000lb AMC stock 390/401 go in the 13's with only headers, gears, tires and $100 and do it with the Motorcraft carb too I'd stop driving!
This is what TUNING is all about. If you're in the 9's you need a billet dist. If not.......
Comments and questions welcomed, insults by people who haven't been there are not.


amxron
70 AMX
70 Hornet
78 FSJ Wagoneer
Fleet&JEEP Mgr
Orbit/AMC-JEEP 50-1787
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