I have a 300hp crate 360 Magnum that I'm running in a 91 1/2 ton short bed dodge truck.
I had been running a Mopar performance distributor that had been re-worked and set up by don at Fbo systems.
I've ran that distributor for 5 years, had to replace 2 pick up coils in it in the last 5 years, last night I was working on replacing another pick up coil and was trying to get the advance plate to stay steady and not flop around in the distributor, while I was fiddling around with
It I accidently dropped the distributor out of my vice and a big chunk of the housing broke from hitting the concrete floor 😡😡😡😡
So I decided screw this distributor I'm gonna order a firecore 50.
I've heard they are great, I was hoping a few people would be willing to share some
Info on them, like what's the mechanical advance set at out of the box? And what is the advance rate out of the box?
Is it easy to adjust the mechanical advance? Does it require any special tools to set the advance? I've heard they are a lot like the old mopar units with the Mallory guts.
Do you need the little plastic stops to set the mechanical advance?
I need 16-18 degrees of mechanical advance, and I'd like the advance rate to be all in by 2500-2800 somewhere in there would be perfect.
I'm considering ordering it from Mancini racing.
Unless someone here knows of a better place to purchase one from, I'm trying to get it as quick as possible and ups says I should have it in 3-4 days from Mancini.
I haven't placed the order yet cause I'm still trying to learn a little more about them before I do.

as far as i know Mancini is the only place these can be bought. there are 2 members on here that can really help you. firefighter3931, and sunroofgtx.

Yeah, go look at the Firecore documentation at their site before you buy. It's almost as craptastic as their website layout. Only reason it isn't as craptastic is because there is none.

Not sure I want to buy something with no idea what is has, or hasn't got.

You can buy it from more than Mancini though.

that is amazingly annoying too. no sort of documentation at all and very little on Mancini's.

Ya it's annoying me not being able to find any information what so ever on these distributors.
I've heard they are great units, but it would be nice to know what the advance rate is, what the mechanical advance is, what tools are needed to adjust the mechanical advance.
I've read online that all you need is a screwdriver to set the mechanical advance, that's cool.
But do you need a special tool to measure the slots inside the distributor?
Do you have to remove the reluctor and pick up coil to adjust the mechanical advance?
Idk I guess I will call Mancini in the morning and start asking questions.

the better bet is to contact sunroofgtx. he works for Firecore.

I have one of the first Firecore distributors in my Savoy and it's just a mag pick-up tall model for RB engines. The advance is easy to adjust with just a Phillips screw driver to loosen the plate. Mine came with about 15* advance and the springs were perfect out of the box for my car. I had to adjust the advance to 10* and it was easy on a big block. There are no measurement tools that I am aware of though I just set mine and checked it and got lucky on the first try.
I am very happy with mine and I suggest you leave the springs alone or change them without disassembling the distributor. I changed them on other Firecore units using dental picks and micro needle nose pliers. This distributor is not really meant to be disassembled and the only ones I have seen troubles with are those that have been disassembled to change the springs.
Mine has been flawless for almost 8 years now and I would buy another one if I had to.
You can get them with either type of cap so make sure you specify with your order.
Gus

Mine is fie, but I had to file the pickup gap in order to make them parallel. When it arrived, the gap was "crooked" - runs great otherwise (when I actually drive it)

Jeg's also sell them under their own brand, instructions included:

http://www.jegs.com/InstallationInstructions/500/555/555-40500_40504_40506.pdf

Here's some more:

I ordered one this morning from Mancini.
I'm running a magnum crate engine, 36-38 degrees of total timing would be too much imo.
Mine runs best at around 34 degrees of total timing.
I don't need tools to limit the advance because I have the measurements written down for what the slot length should be.
I can just find a couple of drill bits and measure them with my micrometer and set it that way.
I will leave the springs alone, as along as the timing is all in by 2500-3000 rpm I'll be happy.
Do you have to take the reluctor and pick up coil out to set the mechanical advance?
I guess if it does come with 20 degrees of mechanical advance I can live with that.
Set my initial at 14 degrees and have the total land at 34 degrees.
But if it's any higher then 20 then I'll be adjusting it.

I have one in my 408. Love it !

Advance is pretty easy to set up per their instructions. You will need a set of Mallory advance keys to set it up. These are used as spacers to set the curve. I am sure you can wing it but I don't like R&R my dizzy that much. Just out of curiosity I looked on summit and jegs and both said unavailable. Kinda strange. The Mallory part number is 29014 and includes springs. Not sure they sell just the plastic keys. I found a set on ebay that the guy wants $58.00 for so they must be out of production or something now. I bought mine at summit a couple years ago. I want to say they were around 20 bucks.

I got the summit keys, slightly cheaper:

https://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/sum-850535-1/overview/

SUM-850535-1

You can also use drill bits though, actually they're more accurate

Well, boys and girls, here's another result of the consolidation in the performance ignition industry. MSD, which is a Holley corp, bought Mallory some time ago. As you might expect, few Mallory items are being produced any more. If you have an 8BA flathead, you're in luck, you can still buy a distributor. Otherwise the product line is limited to fuel pumps and regulators, two ignition boxes and 82 replacement items for Mallory distributors. There is no ignition curve setting kit among the 82 items.

Rick, Sparky, SunroofGTX are the same guy and as far as I know he IS firecore. He's a board member. Seems to be a great guy who is into making sure his products work. Maybe he needs to start producing the advance setting parts. I wouldn't be surprised to see him on this thread soon.

R.

I saw the summit kit for 20 bucks last night, but it seems like a waist of money since I already know what the measurements are.
Here is what I have written down.
20 degrees of mechanical advance is .185
18 degrees of mechanical advance is .165
16 degrees of mechanical advance is .150
14 degrees of mechanical advance is .130

No one has been able to tell me exactly what the mechanical advance is set at out of the box on a small block fire core distributor, I've been told 20 degrees and I've been told 22 degrees.
I've been told the advance rate is all in at 2500 and I've been told it's all in at 2800 and all in at 3000.
Guess I'll just have to throw it in right out of the box and put the timing light to get to find out for sure what the settings are out of the box.

Just another reason to not like MSD.

I don't recall what the base line tune is. I think the install instructions state it tho...........I remember mine needed adjusted to what I wanted to run.

Madscientist, I agree with you on that.

R.

my firecore distributor came with an advance curve kit that looks identical to the summit one

I just waned to give an update.
I ordered the firecore distributor from Mancini.
It arrived pretty quick, bout 3-4 days.
It came with the keys to set the mechanical advance and a few different springs to set the advance rate.
I left the springs alone that came in the distributor, the two blue springs because that's all in at 2800 rpm and starts to come in at 1200.
I set the mechanical advance at 16 degress with the key.
The reluctor teeth were all spot on at .008 and remained that way even with the vaccum advance applied, no advance plate wobble what so ever.
Very solid unit.
Installed it and set my initial timing to 16 degrees, hooked the vacuum advance up to manifold vacuum and checked the timing it was at 30, exactly where I wanted it.
Took it for a drive and I was amazed at how smooth it was idling in gear and in park.
And it felt more responsive.
I wish I would have bought one of these a long time ago.
It blows the fbo distributor I had out of the water.
Anyone thinking about getting one don't wait another minute, they are worth every penny.