Honestly, I don’t think Ted has had much feedback in regards to height. He did state the distributors can be built for him at any height, so I’ve sent him the pics and concerns for us Buick guys regarding the height. I’m still happy I have one. As you can see, the required mod is nothing, our cars don’t see rain anyways. Are they an MSD unit? Not sure. I do hope the Buick guys that require a modern distributor step up, otherwise Ted will be hard pressed to keep Buick distributors as part of his inventory.
I'm also communicating with Ted and he's told me the same thing about Buick models being available in late February. I also mentioned the possible issue of his choice of housings being from MSD or another source that builds the Buick housings from a Chevy design. If so, those of us wanting to keep the stock look with a small cap will find that the inspection window will face the carburetor instead of the radiator 'cause Chevy distributors are in the back. Reason for this is that the notch for the locating tab of the distributor cap is in the back of the housing instead of the front like on Buick distributors. I hope he makes it right for us otherwise, those of us wanting to use original GM small caps will have to cut another notch in the Progressive housing.
Hmmm, I just got an email from Ted saying that their distributor has no provision for a vacuum advance and all advance parameters are programmed including advance based on engine vacuum. (it looks like it has a vacuum port to receive full time manifold vacuum). So much for the stock look externally unless we can attach a dummy vacuum advance to the housing somehow.
How do you like the live gauges while driving? Helps if you have a passenger, you see the vacuum the engine is creating, how much timing your at, even your speed. Im very happy with mine as well.
@Canadian GS 350 I've only used the live gauges to tune the carburator while under the hood so far as I have full gauges including vaccum & air/fuel in my Regal. Right now I have 34* total timing all in at 2500 and im running manifold vacuum. I may try going to 36* at some point.
Going to 36 is so easy, you can save the current tune version and always reload it to the distributor. We can even e mail recipes to other Progression Distributor owners. You can change individual cells on your table if you like as well. Another member here just purchased one for his 455, one for his 350 build.
I ordered one the day they went live a few weeks back and it came a few days later. I installed it shortly after and last Friday was the first day I could get out on the road. Did about 100 miles with no surprises.
Found it. That seems to be considerable extra height, 4" maybe? No good reason for the extra height. Chop that baby down!
I think I could benefit from the programmable crank, idle, & total, plus rev limiter features of this dist. Seems like a start / /retard feature. All this without the MSD 6al box? Perfect! Shorten up the height...