[65madgoat]

Curious to know more on that Progression Distributor - customer service is something too. MSD tech is fairly easy to get a hold of. FAST(formerly CRANE)/Edelbrock Group a joke these days. One call in to Progression and get an ansering machine.

Love to hear some feedback on the app and Progression overall.

[grivera]

The Progression Ignition (PI) distributor is fairly new to the market as I'm sure you know, but those who have them, love them - myself included. I haven't seen any bad reports. FWIW, my Firebird has a Holley Sniper with Hyperspark dizzy, and the Lemans has points, so I'm all over the map.

I'm not knocking MSD but I believe to get the same features as a PI, you would need the dizzy and the CD box, so more money, two components to fail, plus the PI is programmable from your smart phone on the fly- not sure if the new MSD boxes do the same. I only called the PI when I was researching and had no problem getting a live person, so can't comment on customer service with any how good it for issues.

[Charlie Brengun]

Originally Posted by Helge71

Lots of good advice here, thanks a lot! I will try to purchase a stock points distributor and the Hi-6 box... Just not always so easy to find a seller willing to ship overseas fromt eh US...

If you don't mind waiting until one pops up.. I got a nice used points distributor and an ignition box (an old Mallory in my case) from kleinanziegen.. they do show up from time to time...

There's a HEI unit on there currently but it's a bit pricey for me (300) for something that is in a used, unkown state.

[HWYSTR455]

Originally Posted by grivera

"I'm not knocking MSD but I believe to get the same features as a PI, you would need the dizzy and the CD box, so more money, two components to fail,"

Cost, is very comparable between the two, The Pi is $560, + $200 if you want launch control, N2O retard, and data logging. The main body looks just like a pro billet, and appears to use the same caps & rotors (as do the knock off ones).

The Summit pro billet knock of is $190, the MSD 6AL-2 is $399, and a MAP sensor is like $30. It comes with multiple feature, but if you want data logging, I believe that might require another box. And no, it can't do tuning from the phone. But it's not like you're going to be playing with it as you drive, and once you get your' all around tune, doubt you will do much tuning with it.

More things to go wrong. So you have one small board in the Pi that has a MAP built on to it, BT interface, etc. If only one thing goes wrong, then the whole thing needs to be repaired.

The pro billet (not RTR) is basically just a mag pickup, and the box you can mount away from heat and vibration. Worse case scenario the box goes bad, and you could have a replacement in like 3 days. And the repair is plug & play.

Just to say, personally, I don't like bluetooth, or phone apps, they are always 'spotty' when it comes to connectivity and function. I'm sure it's getting better, but take for example, how many updates have you gotten over the last 6 mo on your phone?

Hyperspark setup is nice, and if it were more competitive on pricing, bet more people would run them. And yes, you can use them without efi. Hall effect distributors have a number of advantages, but outside of efi, it just doesn't warrant the additional cost.

The MSD Programmable 6AL-2 is compatible with hall effect sensors/distributors.

Anyway, I'm sure the Pi is a good product, and it's probably engineered well. It's a new entry into the market, which is good/bad, guess time will tell. I'm curious about long-term usage reviews, hopefully we will start seeing more of those.

EDIT: The MSD Pro-Data+ Software does data logging, and is included with the AL-2.
.

[JLMounce]

Having just installed one of the PI dizzy's on my uncles 67 Firebird, it's been pretty awesome to work with. Especially because I'm basically acting as the tuner.

It connected for him instantly without any fuss and we haven't had any issues delivery tunes to it. In fact, based on what he tells me over the phone about what the car is doing, I can update the MAP on my phone and send him a new file, that he uploads and he sees instant results.

There's a place for a pro-billet and 6AL-2 box, but in this situation, the PI dizzy is allowing him and myself to do things that a more traditional setup isn't as adept at.

My uncle's car now has a FiTech controlling fuel and a PI dizzy controlling spark. It's never run better since her purchased the car. So much so that he's put more miles on it in the last handful of weeks than he's put on it in the previous 4 years.

As always, YMMY, but I continue to see positive results with these intuitive and easy to use solutions.

[Dragncar]

Originally Posted by HWYSTR455

I bet everyone on this thread has a daily driver with electronics in it.

The goal for the recommended box was for being able to program the curve, not to make up for any lack of carb tuning.

You grab a 50+ yo points dizzy from eGay, you're going to have to check everything. Shaft for wear and straightness, ensure the proper parts are being used and are all there, ensure the body & bushings aren't worn out, and you still have to dial it in with weights & springs.

Sure everybody at one point or another have found you can't just throw any 'ol weights & springs in there and expect it to run properly. Plate/weight mismatch, springs w poor tolerances, RPM creep/drift of timing, plate stops, vacuum can issues/adj/limits, and you still have to find a good set of points or HEI module.

If you want to trust 15+ yo used electronics over a new MSD unit, then more power to you. But to comment, that's a considerable higher risk for failure than a new MSD box.

I guess it would be 'ok' for a weekend cruiser with an occasional WOT blast w max 5500 RPM, but it's not going to cut it for something you want to drive a lot and long distances. And I'm not talking about that one summer event you want to cruise to 2 hours each way to, I mean potentially 1000s of miles within a week or two.

Try a Power Tour. That will shake out a car. I know it flushes out all the people that are still fine with driving on 10 yo tires.

Like I said, so many are reluctant. At least some are switching over the EFi...



.

So the guy who knows more about distributors than anyone called a iron points distributor the "gold standard" for reliability and you come along and try and make it sound like a points distributor and a USA made CD box "might not make it" on a long drive ?
Rubbish.
The old USA made CD boxes from Crane, MSD and Mallory are BETTER than the new "Made in CHINA" stuff you can buy now.
I have had a MSD box from the 80s on my car and a distributor from 1962 and it has never gave me trouble.
(I did have a rotor screw loosen once, my fault)
All the guys at the track have had ignition trouble in my 35 years of racing while I just went up and down the track and the same set of points for most of it. I changed them a couple years ago, just because.
You can find nice iron points distributors if you look. I bought this one from Paul Carter for 125$ just to keep around. It is ready to go, looks and feels like a new.

This is the most reliable ignition system, period. And a electronic ignition will not get you one more horsepower with a CD box. I have spun my distributor all the way to the max on a Sun machine, never a hick up. With a good set of Accel/ Napa points, points bounce is a non issue.
You can even have a new condenser sitting under the cap unused just in case the CD box fails and you need to switch some wires around and drive home.
I would get a brass Mallory one. I have had the same Mallory condenser on my setup working the whole time since the 80s.

To the OP. If you do get a iron distributor they have a smaller pin for the gear. I drilled mine out to the size the aluminum units have.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/maa-401

[73ta]

Love my PI distributor. Replaced my MSD billet one. Love the ignition retard for starting, the ability to tune on the fly & see the tune real time while running. Saving different timing maps that can be uploaded easily. Changing timing without having to mess with springs, vacuum pods & weights. Love the ability to change the timing advance when I turn on the AC and put load on the engine to maintain the same idle speed as when its off. Like the anti-theft shut off and max RPM limit adjustability. No issues with it so far. I run it with my MSD 6A box I've had forever. Would never go back from it to any other distributor. They are good at responding to my questions via email.

[Kenth]

I and many others like the old cars with the technology that was used.
If I want modern stuff, I buy a modern car.
I have a hard time imagining the owner of a Model T Ford putting an HEI, MSD or EFI on his engine. It just doesn't look right.
Getting an original ignition system to work as intended is really no big deal.
And by the way, why stop at MSD or EFI?
Put the powertrain from a Tesla in a classic GTO, NOW you're modern!

JMHO

[JLMounce]

Originally Posted by Kenth

I and many others like the old cars with the technology that was used.
If I want modern stuff, I buy a modern car.
I have a hard time imagining the owner of a Model T Ford putting an HEI, MSD or EFI on his engine. It just doesn't look right.
Getting an original ignition system to work as intended is really no big deal.
And by the way, why stop at MSD or EFI?
Put the powertrain from a Tesla in a classic GTO, NOW you're modern!

JMHO

Certainly nothing wrong with that.

Anecdotally, I can tell you that the cars that I see around my town that are being driven. Meaning I'm seeing them out an about. They are showing up to cars and coffee events, being taken up the canyons etc. Most of them have been modernized.

When I see lots of originality, it's only ever at a car show. Those cars seem to come out sparingly, and there's typically a sea of trailers just outside the show.

I'm not saying that's always the case, but it's just an observation that I see in my local area.

[HWYSTR455]

I respect everyone's opinion and experience, not trying to offend anyone, just sharing my opinion.

Late 70s thru the 80s and into the 90s, I ran many types of boxes, Crane, MSD, Mallory, Accel, Jacob, Pertronix, and ones I can't remember.

I've run just about every type of distributor too, AND, my fallback was always points. Without a box to be clear. But my fallback dizzy took considerable time to setup properly, and it did have parts from multiple donor cores.

I drove my cars as primary transportation from late-70s thru the 20-0hs, and probably have more street miles on my cars than just about anyone here. I did 90%+ of the work on those cars too. I've tried just about every aftermarket part for a pontiac that's available.

What is the most reliable pickup? Take your time, let me know. But I can tell you, the mag pickups are probably one of the top 3, easy. Look how many OEs have used it over the years.

I went multi-point SEFi in the mid-90s, which basically forced me into using a specific kind of ignition, hence, CD box. So since then, I've revisited CD boxes, and in my experience, across the board, the most reliable boxes were/are MSD. (and yes I've had MSD failures).

Let's revisit the OP's opening statement:

"I am trying to tap the forum knowledge to find a new distributor for my 455 engine. I am quite fed up with failing distributors by now."

So what's the recommendation? Are you going to tell this person to use an old points distributor from eGay? And go thru it and curve it?

Let's look at this from a risk management perspective. Although some system components have desirable features, and even though others have had success with it, new parts and new companies need to stand the test of time. It's a simple fact. Nothing worse than getting part X all dialed in and the company goes under or changes hands.

For many, dialing in a distributor curve takes time and knowledge, not all have the experience/knowledge as many here. Do a search here on how many made comments about 'sending a distributor out for a custom curve' ? This is where being able to program it is very useful, people can just program it. How many still have a graveyard of shafts, weights, & springs?

OP Comment: "Instead of further troubleshooting on the dizzy and throwing more parts at it, I am thinking of installing a new, good quality unit." (2nd Pertronix)

Selection Criteria: Reliability, NEW, quality unit.

Anything beyond that is a bonus or not needed.

My recommendation: MSD RTR or knock-off Cost: MSD = $575, Knock-Off = $375

Bonus: Programmable timing control for about the cost of an MSD RTR.

My recommendation: MSD Pro Billet knock-off with a programmable CD box +MAP.

Cost: $190 + $400 + $30 = $620

So for the basic cost of an MSD RTR, you can get programmable timing control. How does that not make sense?


.

[grivera]

Great points (no pun intended) but I’ve read the summit knock offs are not the same quality as MSD so more expensive to go that route if one wants an authentic MSD.

[JLMounce]

Originally Posted by grivera

Great points (no pun intended) but I’ve read the summit knock offs are not the same quality as MSD so more expensive to go that route if one wants an authentic MSD.

I have a summit version of the MSD Pro Billet. Machining on the housing is great, end play was in spec out of the box. I couldn't find anything with it that I didn't like.

In fact if you took any banding off these things and gave me both, I probably wouldn't be able to tell you which was which. It would not surprise me at all if they were both made in the same plant.

[grivera]

Maybe they are made by MSD but no way to tell, even if many white box items are repackaged brand name. I have a Summit RTR (MSD imposter) on the shelf so it would certainly make me feel better if that was the case...

[HWYSTR455]

Originally Posted by grivera

Maybe they are made by MSD but no way to tell, even if many white box items are repackaged brand name. I have a Summit RTR (MSD imposter) on the shelf so it would certainly make me feel better if that was the case...

Ai agrees somewhat:


AI Overview

Summit Racing Ready-to-Run Billet Distributors are generally considered to be manufactured by MSD (or produced to similar specifications) and are highly praised in reviews for their price point. They are popular for being a "plug-and-play" upgrade, featuring a built-in ignition module, and having excellent adjustability, though some users report occasional quality control issues with internal components.

Key Takeaways from Reviews:

Manufacturer: Widely believed to be made by MSD; some users report that parts (like caps) and troubleshooting steps from MSD apply.

Performance: Generally positive reviews noting better throttle response and easier starting, often used as a budget-friendly alternative to premium brands.

Features: Includes an ignition module, vacuum advance (adjustable), and a tuning kit (springs/bushings).

Quality Control/Issues: While many have success, some users reported failed magnetic pickups or damaged gears, suggesting checking the assembly upon arrival.
Recommendation: Good value for street performance, but some users recommend using high-quality or MSD brand caps/rotors as replacements.

[HWYSTR455]

Just to say, you HAVE to check ANY part thoroughly before putting into service. And no production line is 100% flawless.


.

[HWYSTR455]

Hm, I phrased the question differently and Ai spit this out:

AI Overview

Summit Racing Ready-to-Run billet distributors are generally manufactured by MSD Ignition. These private-label, CNC-machined aluminum distributors are designed as an affordable, high-performance alternative for street and race engines, featuring a magnetic trigger and no external ignition box requirement.

Key Details regarding Summit Racing Distributors:

Manufacturer: Primarily MSD Ignition produces these distributors for Summit Racing.

Features: They feature CNC-machined aluminum housings, polished steel shafts, and sealed ball bearings rated up to 10,000 RPM.

Applications: Models are available for small/big block Chevy, Ford, AMC, and Jeep I6 engines.

Functionality: They include a built-in module, eliminating the need for an external ignition box.

[TXSTARFIRE]

AI says not available for Pontiac?

[67Lemons]

I have the TSP version of the MSD ready to run, looked great in the box and installed in the car late last season but is running fine, curve was easy to dial in and for the price it’s hard to beat, purchased mine from an eBay vendor.

https://topstreetperformance.com/pro...8a4d9ba2&_ss=r

[HWYSTR455]

Originally Posted by TXSTARFIRE

AI says not available for Pontiac?

It just says some of the models that it is available for, we all know they are available for BOPs.


.

[P@blo]

Originally Posted by grivera

Maybe they are made by MSD but no way to tell, even if many white box items are repackaged brand name. I have a Summit RTR (MSD imposter) on the shelf so it would certainly make me feel better if that was the case...

The summit RTR has a 0.467" shaft diameter, and the MSD is 0.50", so they are not rolling off the same assembly line. MSD gear is melonized too the Summit is not. Also, no one in my area is using GM stuff, and their cars are drivers. Not saying this is not an option, but to suggest you need to run points for good reliability is silly. I suppose if you are losing sleep over the matter, you could throw a junk spare GM distributor in the trunk. Sometimes we get stuck on an information island, and it is good to check in on the mainland once and a while...

For me, I want to check a few boxes: new, external coil; rev limiter without adding a box; top bearing, not a bushing; melonized gear; common shaft diameter. The PI appears to check all the boxes and even has a lock-out to stop unwanted use.

Too bad the TSP did not have rev limiting, as it uses the 0.50" shaft, and it looks like it is possible that MSD makes them. Just a guess though...