Making a trick distributor

The stock Delco in the '74 Spitfire was very handy with respect to finding parts - it used Chevy 6-cylinder points. I could find those practically anywhere. But the unit itself was not well supported or very serviceable. And it had the gear drive for the tachometer so it would be tricky to replace. What to do?

Well, I talked to some buddies and found a TR6 distributor on eBay. I found a nice 1970-ish unit with a fine timing adjustment thumbwheel, and the mechanical tach drive. Then I sent it to Advanced Distributors in Michigan for re-conditioning. They installed a 4-lobe cam in it, and used an MGB cap with TR6 points and rotor. Specialists are a wonderful thing! The advance curve was also customized for the engine work I had done.

Your basic Delco DR204.

The re-worked TR6 distributor! I don't have a 'before' pic, but it was pretty grubby.

Here it is in action, showing the thumbwheel fine adjustment. Very handy!

I had better luck with a Sport coil and these Cobalt ignition leads.

The TR6 rotor and points.

References:

http://advanceddistributors.com/wordpress1/