The MSD 8383 comes with their heaviest advance springs installed . In their kit they provide 2 other spring sets and two other bushings. According to their charts, for my appliction, getting to about 34 degrees advance at 2,400 RPM I'll need to use their lightest springs and their smallest (red) bushing. Changing the springs is a snap. Changing the bushing on the underside of the advance plate would be nearly impossible with the distributor in the motor. I think you can probably do it turning the distributor upside down, but with my stubby fingers I can't even touch the nut that holds the bushing. Anyone done this that can give some tips?

  Ron Lane,  Meridian, ID

Marv;

I read the MSD instructions on locking out the vacuume advance and to be honest, I don't know the difference between locking out and not connecting a vacuume line to the canister. Either way, I was not planning on running any vacuume advance on this distributor. MSD does provide a plastic wedge for locking out the vacuume advance. I'm not sure if it replaces the entire canister assembly or mounts under the arm from the canister.

I've read the other from posts back in 2011 and I'm using 471 heads with forged flat top pistons (John's 331 cu.in. stroker kit with the domes milled off) and I also relieved the block. I'm thinking that my compression should be less than 9:1, but I'm not exactly sure yet. So, I'm just trying to figure a good starting point for the bushing and spring combination.

Rono

  Ron Lane,  Meridian, ID

Okay, so if I don't run any vacuume advance, is 38 degrees total advance too much in your opinion? I think I will switch back to the blue bushing as Ted suggested. I re-read the MSD instructions about removal of the vacuume canister and I agree with you that removing it would definately clean up the appearance and provide more room. But replacing with the lockout piece sounds a bit tricky and can create problems. It may or may not need to be shimmed. I'll decide one way or another sooner or later.

Rono

  Ron Lane,  Meridian, ID

Don't worry about the vacuum now, it does not work at all under boost. The advance curve can be quick because you won't see any boost until 2500-3000 anyhow. You will be able to run quite a bit of advance up to that point becaause what you'll have until the boost comes on is a low compression, small engine, that needs a lot bof advance. I have mine all in by about 2500.

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

Thanks Frank;

Looks like the way I have the distributor set-up now I'm all in at 3,000 RPM. If I keep the light silver and light blue spring and change to the blue bushing, I'll be all in at 2,500 RPM.

Rono

  Ron Lane,  Meridian, ID

you're welcome Ron, if I said anything wrong Hoosier would have jumped on me, so I must be close!!

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

Thanks John. There are so many variables in getting this right. It may be on the dyno for a long time.

Rono

  Ron Lane,  Meridian, ID

Hey Rono- I was thinking of putting an 8383 on my almost stock 368 Lincoln engine. Is this too much distributor for a stock application?

It's not "too much."  However, it is not a drop in replacement since it is for a Ford not a Lincoln.  You will have to swap the distributor gear from the Lincoln distributor to the 8383.


Lawrenceville, GA