Lock out Distributor or Not
 

I am running an MSD billet distributor with mechanical advance and am wondering if there are reasons to lock it out. Its a drag car only with a BBC. The car runs fine but I know most people lock the advance on drag only cars. Any thoughts would be helpful.

Thanks

Alot depends on compression and what kind of ignition box you are using.

If you have a start retard like most do that lock out timeing then you are fine but if you don't and have a decent amount of compression you could have a hard time getting the car to start with out issues.

Also alot of cars have the timeing locked out because they are using a power adder which is commenly N20 and they do not want the timing to change from were it is.

I hope this helps..

Since its a Track only car there is no reason not to lock it out. Its one less thing to go wrong.

Hard starts can easily be overcome by having a seperate ignition switch and turning the engine over and then flipping the ignition on.

Locked is best. you dont want something to happen while at wot.

Hard starts are caused by wimpy ass starters. :lol:

Drag only cars spend 99% of their time @ WOT so there is no need for a advance curve in the first place. Its the main reason the distributor is locked out, having all of your advance already in aides in throttle response which is especially important in like a footbrake class where you wanting super crisp throttle response off the line.
Hope this helps, Charles

My distributor is locked on my car and I have no problem startsint it with no retard.14-1 comp. BBC

I've heard(never seen)of bad things happening with that starting method.Any truth to it?

Ive dont it that way for years, never had any trouble, spin it over a bit then flip the ignition, works great.
Cp

I have done it that way but I have also seen it blamed for flexplates getting torn up . If the cap isn't indexed correctly it can jump to the wrong terminal and misfire or something like that...at least that's what I am told.