finally stopped the ignition timing retard issues i'v had for a while. i added a crank trigger and timing is rock solid with rpm,well almost. when i blip the throttle i loss 1/2* and thats it. i tried to set it for 35* initially,but ended up with 36*. with quick throttle jab it is 35.5* so i'll leave it for now.
the issue had to be in the dist. since the signal is now coming from the crank.
called MSD to get their opinion and they would not admit their dist. causing the issue. all they would say is that a mag. pickup dist. would not cause timing to retard. so i guess its a mistery.
anyway,engine sounds great,now i just need to get back to the track.

i would say that MSD is correct. you have to keep in mind that any time you have clearance between the drive gear and the cam, up and down clearance between the drive gear and the cam and a camshaft that can move front to rear and back to the front (depending on the set end play as well as any play a timing chain might have, you'll always have the potential for the timing to move around a little bit. the magnetic pickup itself will not cause timing to retard. after all, the crankk trigger is also a magnetic pickup.

Just installed a new chain and gear set last week with a new bronze gear. .009 cam end play and .015 dist shaft play. Mechanically everthing is in spec. Ignition box is in the driver compartment and a shielded cable added. Added a new box a few years ago. Tried three different timing lights. The last one self powered 2 d cells. I also changed the plug wires and resister plugs. Think i isolated the dist. As the problem.

i'm glad to hear the crank trigger fixed your problem. as far as the distributor being the problem, we'll just agree to disagree. intetrmediate shaft is able to move up and down and the cam walks front to rear changing the gears position of rotation which effects the position of the rotor/ reluctor to magnetic pickup, as well as the other things i mentioned. more often that not the drive on the distributor has some play where the tang fits the intermediate shaft as well. all of those things can add up to a considerable amount of timing change. unless something is loose inside the distibutor itself, it's not likely the cause of your problem on its own.

I understand what your sayin and agree to a point. Besides having a new chain i also have a chain tensioner and the dist. Shaft fits very tight into the pump shaft, zero play. I would think if the timing issue was a mechanical cause the timing would retard 5* as soon as rpm starts to climb. Timing retards gradually 5* total from 2000 to 4000 and may retard more higher up,did'nt check. The way the timing retards over an rpm range it seems issue is electrical and does this like clock work every time. Anyway,just glad its fixed.

Msd Billet, chrysler and ford magnetic pick up dists will retard timing when rpm increases.
This comes from msd.
It also says so in the instructions for my digital 6 box.
Cant compare to a cranktrigger they are much bigger.

i'm aware of that also. if you search it online you will find quite afew others with the same timing issue. two of those fixed their issue by installing a different brand distributor,pertronix and fire core fixed their issues. so i was looking at having to get a new dist. and decided on the crank trigger and glad i did.