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Front distributor drive #2715549
11/13/19 09:43 PM
11/13/19 09:43 PM
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 21
Northeast
R
Racer68 Offline OP
member
Racer68  Offline OP
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 21
Northeast
I’m building a Gen 2 Hemi drag race motor for my ‘68 Cuda. I would like to use a front drive distributor. I was hoping you guys could give me some answers to a few questions.
I’m looking for what they call a distributor plug...Jessel has them but not for Chryslers. I’ve made calls but can’t come up with one.
Do you think I’m wasting my time here? Should I just go with a standard crank trigger distributor?
I’m also worried that I won’t fit it under the hood.
I think it’s got a couple of good advantages and I know it sounds silly but I think it looks cool.

I’d appreciate any feedback.

Re: Front distributor drive [Re: Racer68] #2715553
11/13/19 10:02 PM
11/13/19 10:02 PM
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,082
St. Paul , Mn.
tubtar Offline
master
tubtar  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,082
St. Paul , Mn.
Originally Posted by Racer68
I’m building a Gen 2 Hemi drag race motor for my ‘68 Cuda. I would like to use a front drive distributor. I was hoping you guys could give me some answers to a few questions.
I’m looking for what they call a distributor plug...Jessel has them but not for Chryslers. I’ve made calls but can’t come up with one.
Do you think I’m wasting my time here? Should I just go with a standard crank trigger distributor?
I’m also worried that I won’t fit it under the hood.
I think it’s got a couple of good advantages and I know it sounds silly but I think it looks cool.

I’d appreciate any feedback.

I took a stock distributor , lopped the top off of it , plugged the hole with a hunk of Delrin dowel , cut the shaft to size and bull nosed the end of it , leaving maybe .060 " of play / travel and it works just fine.
It is in an LA , but the idea is about the same.
I use a drive shaft with a bronze gear to drive the oil pump and this is simply something to hold it down.
I believe it is a bigger concern with a big block because of rotation and the oil pump gear wanting to climb.
But this was cheap and effective.

motor plate 011.jpg
Last edited by tubtar; 11/13/19 10:04 PM.
Re: Front distributor drive [Re: Racer68] #2715562
11/13/19 10:36 PM
11/13/19 10:36 PM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,098
Massillon, Ohio
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cudatom Offline
super stock
cudatom  Offline
super stock
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,098
Massillon, Ohio
You can get the plug from Hughes, Mancini or Mazzolini


Ok
Re: Front distributor drive [Re: Racer68] #2715568
11/13/19 11:08 PM
11/13/19 11:08 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 30,947
Oregon
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AndyF Offline
I Win
AndyF  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 30,947
Oregon
Just have to know where to look: http://arengineering.com/home-page/engine-parts/

Re: Front distributor drive [Re: AndyF] #2715570
11/13/19 11:11 PM
11/13/19 11:11 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 30,947
Oregon
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AndyF Offline
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AndyF  Offline
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Posts: 30,947
Oregon
While you're on my website you might as well check out the water manifolds: http://arengineering.com/products/water-manifolds-external-water-pump/

The Jesel belt drive distributor is a great way to go but it does make a lot of dominoes fall over. I ran front drive distributors on all of my serious dyno engines so I ended up fabricating a bunch of parts to make them work.

Re: Front distributor drive [Re: AndyF] #2715595
11/14/19 12:22 AM
11/14/19 12:22 AM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,644
North Carolina
sasquatch Offline
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sasquatch  Offline
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Posts: 2,644
North Carolina
Why yes Andy I have a hemi in the shop right now with a front drive and a belt driven dry sump. The water manifolds they had on it are "interesting" to say the least. Pretty sure that the way it is now that no water was circulating to the driver side with predictable results. I will be ordering some parts shortly. Save me some hassle.....

Re: Front distributor drive [Re: Racer68] #2715602
11/14/19 01:23 AM
11/14/19 01:23 AM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 142
North America
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kwikblownhemi Offline
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kwikblownhemi  Offline
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North America
I have been running a Gen 2 Hemi with no distributor for 18 years with nothing but an o-ringed plug I made to fill the hole. It has about 25k miles of street running and a lot of 1/4 mile passes shifting at 6800 rpm. I'm running a Milodon Aluminum dual line oil pump. The oil pump drive gear looks new.

Re: Front distributor drive [Re: sasquatch] #2715606
11/14/19 01:48 AM
11/14/19 01:48 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 30,947
Oregon
A
AndyF Offline
I Win
AndyF  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 30,947
Oregon
Originally Posted by sasquatch
Why yes Andy I have a hemi in the shop right now with a front drive and a belt driven dry sump. The water manifolds they had on it are "interesting" to say the least. Pretty sure that the way it is now that no water was circulating to the driver side with predictable results. I will be ordering some parts shortly. Save me some hassle.....


For the last project I worked I adapted a SB Mopar water pump to the front a big block. That setup provided great water flow without having the thermostat housing in the middle of things. It took some fab work, but it worked great and looked cool. The experts will tell you that you can't use a SB Mopar water pump on a big block but I did it.

SBpump.JPG
Last edited by AndyF; 11/14/19 01:49 AM.
Re: Front distributor drive [Re: AndyF] #2715694
11/14/19 12:58 PM
11/14/19 12:58 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,304
Las Vegas
Al_Alguire Offline
I Live Here
Al_Alguire  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,304
Las Vegas
We have made our own in the past, last couple I have used Andy's plugs. Dry sump only requires a short plug, some use a "long" plug on wet sump systems but I wonder if its needed. I don't see the oil pump drive coming out the way it is configured but better safe than sorry I suppose.


"I am not ashamed to confess I am ignorant of what I do not know."

"It's never wrong to do the right thing"
Re: Front distributor drive [Re: Al_Alguire] #2717496
11/19/19 12:52 PM
11/19/19 12:52 PM
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,097
back in Georgia
dthemi Offline
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dthemi  Offline
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Posts: 3,097
back in Georgia
Westcott makes a nice one too. Has a bolt hole made into it, so no clamp needed

Re: Front distributor drive [Re: dthemi] #2717988
11/21/19 02:23 AM
11/21/19 02:23 AM
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 6,257
gulfport, ms, west mi
rowin4 Offline
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rowin4  Offline
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 6,257
gulfport, ms, west mi
I bought a new MSD knock off distributor that was on e-bay. $40. bucks. Cut off above the clamping flange. Sold the top cap / rotor and remaining assembly for $20. bucks. Drilled out and put in intermediate oil pump drive block bushings top and bottom. Bought a new MSD [ for about 25% of list price ] remote distributor [ BB chevy ] altered the bracket to fit above the Jesel belt drive. The MSD has a bigger cap than the Jesel . You will get some looks and questions on that addition. As AndyF stated, get his water manifolds. I used a Stewart remote water pump. Also drilled and tapped the water manifolds for electric water temp sensors. Used a on off on toggle switch to check each side of the block which works within a couple degrees.


it's ok to butt heads, just don't do it with a butthead
Re: Front distributor drive [Re: rowin4] #2718028
11/21/19 10:15 AM
11/21/19 10:15 AM
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,496
Tulsa, Oklahoma
340Cuda Offline
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340Cuda  Offline
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,496
Tulsa, Oklahoma
I would like to run a front drive distributor on my small block. I already have an external oil pump. I just want the distributor for the mechanical tach drive (I know old school).

I have a Mopar Performance steel distributor (Presolite?). Does anyone sell a short clip on cover to replace the distributor cap?

Thanks!

Re: Front distributor drive [Re: dthemi] #2718045
11/21/19 11:20 AM
11/21/19 11:20 AM
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,603
Stuttgart, Arkansas
rickseeman Offline
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rickseeman  Offline
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Posts: 2,603
Stuttgart, Arkansas
Originally Posted by dthemi
Westcott makes a nice one too. Has a bolt hole made into it, so no clamp needed


His are the sexiest but I don't know if he still sells them. His crank trigger is sexy too, even if it's black.


2011 Drag Pak Challenger






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