Progression Ignition Distributor

[diesel_lv]

Well I bit the bullet and ordered one for my 383 stroked to 496. I got tired of pulling the electronic distributor and completely disassembling it, changing springs etc trying to get the curve right. Not posting this to get advice on "how" I should set up a mechanical advance. This is so I can, over time of fine tuning, give everyone a 1st hand evaluation.
It came extremely well packaged, double box, molded foam, plastic wrapped. It looks very well built, full billet aluminum. Instructions are printed and very well laid out, in detail and thorough. Install should be very easy and straightforward if you have factor or Mopar Performance valve covers. I don't. I have 440 Source fabricated aluminum valve covers. This required me to dimple the cover and grind a little off of the distributor cap. But it did clear. Once installed and the app installed on phone, it fired right up. I verified it was at 10° and locked it in. Then via Bluetooth, set the initial timing map. It's going to take some time to get it dialed in, but it performs as advertised. The test will be time and the extreme 125° temps I get here in the summer. It's not cheap, but it can control almost every parameter of timing and make adjustments on the go via Bluetooth.

 

[ruffcut]

Very interesting! I will be watching your progress. ruffcut

 

[65Fury440]

I have a few thousand miles on mine.
No problems at all, noticed it cleaned up throughout the entire RPM range.
The only bitch I have is make it a few inches taller for the fabbed VC crowd.
Support is excellent.

 

[65-440]

This is really interesting

 

[hunt2elk]

Never heard of such a thing. Sounds pretty cool.

 

[moparedtn]

What's that puppy set ya back?

 

[65-440]

What's that puppy set ya back?

Looks like $500ish .... been doing some reading up on this thing, I might try one out. All in one unit, no external box and the timing control is pretty awesome

 

[Don selleck]

interesting, just checked out there website, looks like I just found my distributor for my /6 turbo application. Thanks for sharing diesel_lv

 

[65Fury440]

My MP distributor always had slop up top, had it set at 20 initial and 36 all in about 2k.
I could never use the vacuum advance as it would bring too much in, and the engine with start running rough.
]Put a couple different cannisters on and squeezed down the allen wrench, etc etc, till I just said the heck with it, good enough.
It is so easy to play with timing curve now, my engine likes 25-28 down low, bringing it all in by 2200, cruising it has 42 degrees total, all dialed in for 90 octane non ethanol with 11.25 CR.

At the track it takes seconds to pop in a 34-36 tune with a 7k rev limiter.

At car shows, or overnights at hotels my distributor gets shut off (along with a GPS)

The only caveat to getting new technology like this, is support if the company dissolves. The cap and rotor are the same as a aftermarkets small block chevy, the guy at Progression sent me an extra cap and rotor free of charge, which was cool of him,
The other down side is cost, I was going to go MSD billet, so the cost was not that different.

 

[Bee1971]

Well I bit the bullet and ordered one for my 383 stroked to 496. I got tired of pulling the electronic distributor and completely disassembling it, changing springs etc trying to get the curve right. Not posting this to get advice on "how" I should set up a mechanical advance. This is so I can, over time of fine tuning, give everyone a 1st hand evaluation.
It came extremely well packaged, double box, molded foam, plastic wrapped. It looks very well built, full billet aluminum. Instructions are printed and very well laid out, in detail and thorough. Install should be very easy and straightforward if you have factor or Mopar Performance valve covers. I don't. I have 440 Source fabricated aluminum valve covers. This required me to dimple the cover and grind a little off of the distributor cap. But it did clear. Once installed and the app installed on phone, it fired right up. I verified it was at 10° and locked it in. Then via Bluetooth, set the initial timing map. It's going to take some time to get it dialed in, but it performs as advertised. The test will be time and the extreme 125° temps I get here in the summer. It's not cheap, but it can control almost every parameter of timing and make adjustments on the go via Bluetooth. View attachment 1191257View attachment 1191258View attachment 1191259View attachment 1191260

What heads are you running , and any interference with the heads themselves ?

I tried the Pertronix distributor with the Edelbrock E Street heads and was a no go

 

[diesel_lv]

What heads are you running , and any interference with the heads themselves ?

I tried the Pertronix distributor with the Edelbrock E Street heads and was a no go

440 Source. No interference w the heads at all.

 

[Charged440]

I have one on my BBB and couldn't be happier with it. I was just thinking of replacing the unilite on my 440 but it still works, unlike the Buick that needed one anyway.

 

[biomedtechguy]

I'm about to finally get one to use in my current 440 6bbl, 70 Roadrunner, but also for my future 540 Bill Mitchell aluminum block motor. I have the block, but that's all for now. TF 270s will probably be next.
Anyway, I have fabbed crinkle black finish aluminum valve covers with the "MOPAR" name in bare aluminum, and I really want to keep them.
Any ideas what TF heads and those valve covers may face w/the Progression Ignition? I'm asking because I have read about clearance issues with the Trick Flow heads and other distributors. Any first hand experience w/the Progression distributor and TF heads?
Finally, the engine builder will get the Progression Ignition system for the final build stages and dyno, so if grinding or other ways of clearancing is required, I'm confident they won't damage anything in the process, but I may need to get a "head start" on my stock iron headed 440 with these valve covers.

 

[65Fury440]

@biomed I think you probably will have to scallop the corner if your VC is shaped like mine. I thought I posted a pic up a while back. You should be able to eyeball it.

I ran into a small problem with my distributor (not really but)....
Went to start the car after a couple weeks, cranked over, but slow. It would not fire.
Normally it fires almost instantly.
Once the battery was charged it fired right off. Apparently, the ignition system needs a really good charge to work, or at least not a low charge.
The old system would have fired up, still wouldn't go back for that one issue.

 

[biomedtechguy]

I think you probably will have to scallop the corner if your VC is shaped like mine. I thought I posted a pic up a while back. You should be able to eyeball it.

Here are my valve covers: They already have a "clearance angle" in the corner!! (LOL)

I'll look for the pic you posted, if I can't find it I'll reply in this thread.
I'm ok with that (tweaking the valve cover), what I would like to avoid is grinding on the TF270s, or the distributor, but that would be in the hands of the builder at that point, and they are better equipped to do any required "clearancing" than I am, and obviously I trust them, they are providing all the parts to go in and on my Bill Mitchell Products aluminum RB block...and putting it together!

Once I can afford to buy the parts...

 

[biomedtechguy]

Geesh!!
I've been one of the greatest proponents of this ignition system (especially for not having one yet) and I see another "clearance" issue!
From their website, referring to the "Chrysler 413/440 V8"
FITMENT NOTES: This distributor is taller than stock and will not fit cars with a Shaker hood or Six Pak carbs.
I have the N96 Air Grabber and the 6bbl !!
Now I can only guess, but I assume the air cleaner oval lower pan may make contact w/the distributor??
I'm going to get one anyway, and make whatever adjustments are needed to make everything fit and function, but I'd like to know more.

 

[65Fury440]

My TF heads don't have clearance issues, I'd be happy to measure for you, but I suspect the top of the cap is a couple inches taller.

 

[biomedtechguy]

No need to measure, very glad to have a reply from you with TF heads and the Progression distributor.
Thanks

 

[diesel_lv]

Well, about 7 months with it now and absolutely no problems. Another plus is it's dedicated tach line. I get much better signal for my fuel injection.

 

[Don67Satellite]

Well, about 7 months with it now and absolutely no problems. Another plus is it's dedicated tach line. I get much better signal for my fuel injection.

I just noticed you posted today on this @diesel_lv, was about to ask you how it was working out. You run FiTech EFI correct?