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MSD Cap-A-Dapt for GM points style dist doesn\'t fit exactly right

For anyone out there that has a Delco points style distributor on their AMC V8 ('74 and earlier) and was thinking about doing the MSD Cap-A-Dapt upgrade for the larger style cap:
The notch that keeps the bottom adapter piece from spinning is in the wrong place for the MSD piece. I simply got out my dremel tool and put a new notch in the proper place. Problem solved.

'79 CJ-7

 

[13337]

Re: MSD Cap-A-Dapt for GM points style dist doesn\'t fit exactly right

Dremel tools are wonderful inventions!! I couldn't get much done with out mine!
It's save a project more than once around here.
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Besides having to move the locating notch, did you have any other problems?
Did the #1 marker cast into the cap line up with your #1 plug wire location when you were done?
How do you like it so far?
Did you go to an electronic pickup yet and solid state ignition?
I can send you wiring diagrams to wire any of the factory modules to any magnetic tigger... I can probably recommend a coil also...

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You can fire an MSD module with points, but I'm not too keen on the idea...

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If you take a good look at the cap adaptor, there are two sets of mounts for the top cap location clips...
Did that not work for you?
Could You use one of them, by moving the top cap clips over? (Need to move the locating pin too sometimes)
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Please see attachment.
Look where the cap clip is mounted to the adaptor, and look just to the left of the cap clip.
See the extra mounts for the cap clip?
Did your adaptor have them?
Did you try them? And if you did, what kept them from working, what was out of place?

I have done this upgrade twice, and all I had to do was move the cap clips... I've been lucky so far.... I know they used three different versions of the Delco distributor, but I don't know what the differences were...

I'm doing this very same upgrade again for a friend Thursday, and I was just wondering if I'm going to run into the same model of Delco you have....
I would be good to know this stuff for the disk I'm putting together also....

Thanks for your time, Aaron.

If Chris Columbus "Discovered" America (with 25 million already here), Can I Go "Discover" Florida?

 

[120]

Re: MSD Cap-A-Dapt for GM points style dist doesn\'t fit exactly right

TR -I will have answers to all your questions as soon as I get home to eyeball my cap-a-dapt parts. I just did a test fit of the cap/adapter/rotor and have not really fired it with them yet. Mostly because I still have to change the ends on my plug wires.
It looks like the 1 will match up with the same #1 post on the original cap. I'm running the pertronix points conversion with their coil and 8MM wires (I got it as a kit real cheap).

Its been a 13 hour day at work so far....so if I have any ebergy left after the ride home I'll answer the rest of your questions.
I think I have some more questions for you on how to set up that phased rotor too.

-C

'79 CJ-7

 

[13337]

Re: MSD Cap-A-Dapt for GM points style dist doesn\'t fit exactly right

I hear good things about those Pertronix kits.
They use flying magnets instead of the usual iron core load to break the magnetic field on the pickup coil, and they really give a strong signal, and almost no false triggers.
I have one in the distributor machine right now, but I haven't put it through the ringer yet...
I do know it gives as strong a signal as MSD's flying magnet crank trigger, and that's saying something!!
Looks like you made a good choice so far...

Over time, the magnets will collect metallic dust out of the air, and from wear on your distributor parts.
Keep that dust and shavings cleaned off of the magnet collar, and the pick up coil...

See ya later, Aaron.
And thanks again for the answers...

If Chris Columbus "Discovered" America (with 25 million already here), Can I Go "Discover" Florida?

 

[120]

Re: MSD Cap-A-Dapt for GM points style dist doesn\'t fit exactly right

>Besides having to move the locating notch, did you have any other problems?

Nope, but I never put the top part of the rotor on when I was fitting it the other day. The new rotor is about 90 degrees off clockwise from where original was pointing. I was hoping to get away without having to pull the distributor but I guess I will have to (the instructions actually say that the rotor will not line up and you will have to pull the dist.)

>Did the #1 marker cast into the cap line up with your #1 plug wire location >when you were done?
Looking down at the distributor from the top, the locating notch (on the distributor) is to the right of the clip. The notch on the MSD adapter is to the left of the clip (closer to the vacume advance). What I ended up doing is rotating the adapter 360 degrees and grinding a new notch in the base. This also put the #1 molded into the cap in the same place as the original #1.

>How do you like it so far?
Still working on it, but I will let you know.

>Did you go to an electronic pickup yet and solid state ignition?
Pertronix Ignitor. You want to get the original style not the new "Lobe Sensor" style. They sent me the "Lobe Sensor" and it did not work at all on the AMC/Delco distributor.

>I can send you wiring diagrams to wire any of the factory modules to any >magnetic tigger... I can probably recommend a coil also...
I have confirmed with the Pertronix people that the ignitor will work with the MSD ignition modules. I plan on ordering the MSD 6 Offroad module since I need something that will survive the New England mud. The coil I have is the one that came with the Pertronix kit. It is the old can style but according to them it can put out up to 40,000 volts.
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>If you take a good look at the cap adaptor, there are two sets of mounts for >the top cap location clips...
Only one set of mounts now. There is also a locator tab molded into the adapter and into the cap. You cannot rotate the cap at all.

>Look where the cap clip is mounted to the adaptor, and look just to the left >of the cap clip.
>See the extra mounts for the cap clip?
>Did your adaptor have them?
No

>I've been lucky so far.... I know they used three different versions of the >Delco distributor, but I don't know what the differences were...
I have no idea what the distributor (or the motor) may have come out of. The motor was swapped in by the previous owner.
I wish I had a digital camera...it would make this much easier to describe. If something is not clear let me know and I will try to provide a better description.

'79 CJ-7

 

[13337]

Re: MSD Cap-A-Dapt for GM points style dist doesn\'t fit exactly right

I think I know what one you have...
My best friend just bought a old CJ 5, and it has a 304 with points, and I'm going to do a lot of pictures when I do it nest week.
It is going to make the upgrades disk before it's over....

I have a 74 304 coming up too, upgrade from the Prestolite to a real ignition system in three easy steps...

Good luck, and keep us posted...
Aaron.

If Chris Columbus "Discovered" America (with 25 million already here), Can I Go "Discover" Florida?