Looking at buying a new distributor for the 440 in the Newport. Currently running the MP electronic and having some issues with too much advance under vacuum. I know that's adjustable but after reading up on these it sounds like they have issues with jumpy timing and such. So, what are the differences between the Firecore and the FBO billet distributors? Besides 100 bucks that is if I don't have Don tailor make a curve for a new one...... Will the Mallory adjuster kits work in either of these dizzys?


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

Not sure of all the differences, but i had a Firecore distributor and in the first week of owning it, i melted the rotor tip right off of the rotor. About the 2nd or 3rd blast on my new 511 at the time and the motor sure did let off a big kaboom as the tip bounced around in the cap, firing cylinders out of time. It was so violent that i thought i had ran over my alternator with a rear tire. I swear it lifted the rear of the car off the ground. Crazy. I never seen this before. I was also looking at getting one of Dons vac dist curved by him as well. Looks like a nice piece.

I have no Firecore experience - although their wires are highly popular on the site - but there have been a lot of problems reported here with their distributors.
I DO have FBO experience, and would again use them for my next distributor.

I've read bad about both brands of distributors. I'd like some real world experience setting them up before I choose.

Send yours to Joe White https://www.facebook.com/groups/331984517742209/

He will set yours up right!

Jeff

I have heard bad about MSD as well, but a lot of people are still using them.

I agree. He did a tach drive distributor for my 493, awesome job and set it up perfect.

I’ve got FBO distributors and the complete system on several cars. Can’t say enough about how good they start and run. My buds bird has been hard staring ever since he built the motor. Not now. What notice about them the most it the timing light is much brighter and the timing is more steady. I recommend them to all my customers.

Don gave me the low down on Firecore distributors. He was gonna sell them at one point. Said China built a few and sent them over as demos, looked real nice, so he orders 2 pallets of Firecore distributors. They arrive and the quality was not near as good as the Demos they had previously sent. Said he couldn't sell them like that, so he didn't.

Word to the wise, Don is known to stretch the truth when it comes to problems with parts, his or some other brands he sells
He has never made a mistake he can't cover up

I've been using this deal from Progression Ignition.
Very happy with it, you can change curve tables in seconds. Idles and starts cleaner, and smoother all around than the old MP unit it replaced.
I feel better no one can start the car when it's off on security lock
You ditch the module and ballast, uses a full 12v

https://progressionignition.com/

I’ve been using Firecores, both bb and sb, in street cars for 4 or so years now, no issues. Much better than the MP piece I had in the BB, and the SB stuff I ditched an FBO setup that was in the car when I bought it-just had some weird issues.

Odd though, the Firecore site now only lists the sb from what I could see.

THAT'S A VERY NICE WAY OF PUTTING IT! I'M SURPRISED DON DOESN'T SELL JUSED CARS OR REPRESENT NIGERIAN INTERNET KINGS!

Well, I only have experience with Firecore.....Wires are ok, I found no difference in power when compared to procomp wires on my wedge testing back to back at the track. On the Hemi, I have had to re-adjust the clips for more clip on force multiple times. The Taylors I had previously were much better in that regard. I am currently looking at other brands and might go back to Taylor..

Their distributors I like. I have one on the Hemi and I like them because you can close up the curve with a Phillips screw driver and a vice. I only run about 8* mechanical advance in the Hemi...

Coils I have had bad luck with. The quit easily when used with a 7AL2....

MSD race units like the early 404 and the 7 race boxes of all types require a coil that has a lot different windings inside the coil, I don't remember exactly if the stock coils are 400 to 1 and the MSD coil need 200 to 1 or vice a versa
I like the early Mallory #28880 or the same coil with the MSD sticker on them The later small red MSD coil for their race boxes work well also

I have one of the first run of Firecore distributors, I think is was the first one Rick ever sold Been trouble free since the day I installed it with a set of FC wires. I run it with a 6AL and an MSD blaster SS coil .

Gus

I will never run a Firecore distributor again. The first one I had I thought worked great but after traveling to a track 8 hours away the car started acting up. Sometimes it would misfire and other times not and I lost a race because of it. Could not find the issue at the track so checked it over when I got home. After a few hours I see the little screws on the side of the dizzy loose and finally look inside and below the plate its a mess. Took it to Rick and he took it apart and said there were some issues with the early ones and the plastic guides were breaking. The problem was supposedly fixed and he gave me a new one. Guess what? It could not have been 4 races later and the same thing happened - no more for me MSD and no issues since!

Purchased the FBO this week and got a deal on it. Had it curved for my Newport. 18 initial, 14 on 11" of vacuum, and 16 mechanical at 3400 RPM. Will see Friday how it works in my 440.

I'm thinking really hard about picking one of those up.

Might just be the answer I need instead of a locking out dist. Which I have avoided doing.