FSI Distributor

L

Lenny Bruce

Senior Member
Good evening. Does anyone have directions on how to Time a Model A engine when installing the modern style FSI Distributor?
 
There is no amount of advance that fits all cars. You need to know what degree of advance works best for your engine. You can determine that by finding the knee in the advance curve at a fast idle, 1,500 rpm, using a stock distributor. Then measure the advance with a timing light. Then set the advance of the FSI distributor the same at the same rpm. Then take a test drive. If you have good hearing you can hear knocking if it is too advanced.
 
Which one? FSI has 3 options. First is the standard Model A dist with the electronic trigger added. Second is their Zipper that looks like an original but has a little height added to make room for a centrifugal advance - of which there are 4 options. Last is the one that looks like a Mallory dual point but is electronic. Plus each is available in 6 or 12 volt.


https://www.fsignitions.com/about Go to this link and check which dist you have - scroll down and you'll find the installation and operation instructions.
 
I don't see the timing instructions posted online, but the best thing to do is to call Shawn Buller at FSI. He provided all the info I needed about my FSI dist on a car I had purchased and in fact, diagnosed the problem I was having (a heat-failing coil) over the phone.

Better customer support simply doesn't exist.
 
Slotblog said:
I don't see the timing instructions posted online, but the best thing to do is to call Shawn Buller at FSI. He provided all the info I needed about my FSI dist on a car I had purchased and in fact, diagnosed the problem I was having (a heat-failing coil) over the phone.

Better customer support simply doesn't exist.
Click to expand...

It’s in their website, it’s hard to navigate their website , timed the Mallory looking distributor on my extended cab ‘29 , Weber carburetor, Reds header , zoom zoom !
 
I have the not yet installed Mallory Clone. What is the procedure to get it timed well enough for the first start? Can the NuRex wrench be used?
 
My hand me down distributor was a pre FSI , number #1 cylinder on compression , timing pin to find the dimple in the cam gear , picked a contact in the distributor for #1 , guessed an approximate location, started the engine after some fiddling by moving the distributor by hand , used a timing light and set first at 0* TDC , after the engine warmed up and after adjusting the freshly rebuilt Weber carburetor , I set the max timing advance to around 20 -22 * at a high rpm . I haven’t had the truck on the highway yet but it starts very quickly and after it’s warmed up it revs up quite well . I’ve never messed with a Weber or FSI distributor , a big learning curve for me !
 
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