Last summer I changed all the above and had trouble getting it timed and the carb adjusted , the car is like a turtle pulling out, zero power until you get to speed.
I put it in a shop today and the mechanic said it is timed right on and after driving it he said he thought is was the carb.
When I was at Charlotte Auto Fair last fall the MSC rep gave me the numbers for the distributor and what carb to get.
The car starts instantly but will not run very well pulling out and if it were to die on a hill and I had to restart and pull out, I don' think it would happen.
Would the jets in the carb be the problem?
I'm calling MSC tomorrow to see what they say.
I have found you guys as reliable as anyone. Thanks  

Also added a 1957 manifold, almost forgot that.

Did you mean MSD distributor?  If so, was it the #8383 or #83831?  Have you installed the weaker advance springs in the distributor or does it still have the springs that it was originally equipped with?
 
What carburetor are you running?  A Holley carburetor list number would help here.  Where did you hook up the vacuum hose on the carburetor for the vacuum advance?  Ported or direct vacuum for the distributor?  Are you setting the initial ignition timing with the vacuum to the distributor unhooked?  And what ignition timings do you currently have for both the initial and total timing.  Have you checked that the damper timing marks are still dead on and haven't slipped?

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Ted: I saw your post in YBM re problems with some MSD distributors. In that regard, there was an article some time back in a car magazine (can't recall which one at the moment) regarding "fake" MSDs being brought into the U.S.A. Could this still be an issue?


Paul

Counterfeit MSD parts are apparently still an issue as many of the MSD products are being retooled for a different look.  Many of the counterfeits were so close in appearance to the real thing that even MSD was having trouble discerning that these were not theirs until actually taken apart.  This has prompted MSD to go to a one year warranty to eliminate having to work on those older counterfeits.  The key here is to buy MSD products from reputable dealers.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Is your car still 6 volt? The MSD 8383 needs a full 12 volts to operate correctly. I recently just picked one up extremely cheap that had been on a 6 volt car. They burned up the module in it. About $120 to get fixed. Ted, how big of a difference does the weaker springs make? I still have the factory springs in mine.

Durham Missouri

mine is 12 volt, trying to find the receipt where I bought mine so I can answer all of Ted's questions.

Ted, I couldn't find my receipts or box the distributor came in  so I had to run it down on line, it's A MSD #8383 and A Holly #08007 390 cfm carburetor .
I do remember additional magnets coming with it but o be honest if I need them I will have to buy hem.
I'm so frustrated with this car but hoping to get it going soon.

For a quick check of the Damper issue, try advancing the distributor ten degrees or so. See if the idle picks up substantially and the performance improves.  If so, chances are the damper has slipped and needs repaired.


Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

you will have to excuse my igornance, I understand advancing 10 degrees but what is the damper?