I'm running a slightly bored L28 aftermarket cam, into a 240z with triple webers.

Ignition will soon be PS91 with HI-6 from crane arms.

Currently, I have a 280zx Distributor without the vaccum advance hooked up (bad).

I am looking for a new distributor, and would like to hear any thoughts on weather to go with vaccum and mechanical, or mechanical advance only.

I know that triples are not usually set up for vaccum advance, and if I drill, it must be before the first butterfly nut on the manifold. This is not where cannon want's me to drill (there are preselected holes), but that's fine with me. I have also heard of possible problems with vaccum issues when more carbs than stock are used.

I need midrange peformance, because this is primarily a daily driver.

There is a mallory unilite with vaccum and mechanical on ebay right now, and I am considering buying it.

My question:

Should I go with mechanical advance only, or mechanical and vaccum?

Thanks for any input.

Edited September 18, 200915 yr by fiveleaf

Sounds like you should go with a dedicated mechanical advance dizzy. You can get it curved to suite your needs.

Talked to my dad last night, he strongly advised against hooking it up, especially before I can get it running again.

Swapped the old PS92 for the new one. Haven't hooked up the HI-6, and I'm looking for the manual on how to do it. He said that the PS92 and HI-6 might even work in series with the XR700 ignition.

Apprantly Crane just went out of busines. I'll keep looking, and leave the advance until (at least) it runs.

If I swap an old PS92 for a new one (it's currnetly hooked up to the 280zx dizzy with no ignition amplification), do I need to take apart the dizzy and recalibrate it? I remember reading something about this...

there is nothing wrong with not using vacuum advance. I have mine set to 32 all in buy 3,000 no loss of power at all.

Found both manuals, unfortunatly I need to setup the current 280zx dizzy with an optical ignition to run the XR700 from fireball. Seems like a common/straightforward mod to the dist., but requires another part... No more questions

And I'm going mechaincal advance only with the XR700, HI-6, and PS92 coil in series with the tach adapter.

Found both manuals, unfortunatly I need to setup the current 280zx dizzy with an optical ignition to run the XR700 from fireball. Seems like a common/straightforward mod to the dist., but requires another part... No more questions

Except if anyone knows the part number to change an OE 280zx dizzy to fire from optical cables...

And I'm going mechaincal advance only with the XR700, HI-6, and PS92 coil in series with the tach adapter.

Found both manuals, unfortunatly I need to setup the current 280zx dizzy with an optical ignition to run the XR700 from fireball. Seems like a common/straightforward mod to the dist., but requires another part... No more questions

Except if anyone knows the part number to change an OE 280zx dizzy to fire from optical cables...

And I'm going mechaincal advance only with the XR700, HI-6, and PS92 coil in series with the tach adapter.

Not familiar with the Crane setup, but the MSD has a module built into it. So you run the two wires from the hall sensor in the distributor straight to the MSD wires (listed as "Ford pickup wires" if I recall), and that's it. If Crane doesn't have a module built in, then you should be able to wire it up using the E12-80 module on your ZX distributor. I don't think there is too much of a difference in which module is used, but since the modules do fail it's better to have one in the system than two.