Current status of centrifugal advance distributors

[bogiediver]

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Product: FSI Zipper distributor
What it does: Same as std FSI distributor but with outward appearance almost identical to stock A distributor.
Difficulty: Easy
Pros: Lets you use stock plug connectors; all the benefits of the FSI distributor with stock appearance.
Cons: Most expensive option (currently $600 with accessories).
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Some other Pros –
- available as 6vPos or 12vNeg
- phone support available from the company
- 30 month warranty

Worth the price to keep the original look.

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FSI zipper (with H.C.head) may need to be modified with different springs from FSI to get enough retard to prevent pinging (knock) on hills.
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When buying direct from Shawn at FSI – he will build the distributor with the proper springs & weights for the proper advance based on what you tell him about your engine (which head, rebuilt or not, etc.).

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…zipper ha[s] no casting pin to lock the distributor to the head like a stock one.
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True – but the side set screw can hold the distributor in place if tightened sufficiently.

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[Most] Petronix/Ignitor failures were self-inflicted by improper grounding and leaving the ignition key on.
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A comment I've heard related to this is that “you can’t carry an extra distributor should a ‘roadside repair seminar’ become necessary”.
But, you can carry an extra ignitor plate that can be replaced with about the same degree of difficulty (don’t ask how I know…).

And, if you have a timing degree indicator mounted to the front of the engine, you can still use a Nu-Rex timing wrench to set the timing. My FSI set up was designed (by/from Shawn based on my engine configuration) for 5* advance at idle – so I locate TDC with the timing pin, verify it against the indicator scale, then move the timing mark on the pully to 5* advance on the indicator scale, then use the Nu-rex wrench per the instructions. Since I start with the engine positioned at 5* advance, when I’m done with the Nu-rex wrench procedure, the distributor is set for 5* advance.

Shawn makes himself available for assistance and diagnostics by phone, he’s very helpful.

The only issues I’ve had were both self-inflicted - not initially tightening the set screw enough (allowed the distributor to move, taking the timing out of adjustment) and inadvertently shorting the ignitor while installing an updated coil (you all know that smell of the magic smoke as it escapes an electronic device).

Have 5k+ miles on using the FSI Zipper and am very satisfied with its performance.

All of the above is IMHO & FWIW.

[CarlG]

Originally Posted by bogiediver

Have 5k+ miles on using the FSI Zipper and am very satisfied with its performance.

I got 5,000 miles out of my Zipper before it failed,

[AzBob]

Originally Posted by CarlG

I got 5,000 miles out of my Zipper before it failed,

What was cause of the failure? Inquiring minds want to know.

[bogiediver]

Originally Posted by AzBob

What was cause of the failure? Inquiring minds want to know.

Agreed...

[CarlG]

Originally Posted by AzBob

What was cause of the failure? Inquiring minds want to know.

Originally Posted by bogiediver

Agreed...

The module died. I sent the Zipper back to FSI, they fixed it by replacing the module. I also bought an extra module as a spare. In the interim I installed a rebuilt original. It worked so well that I've never got around to switching it out again. It is still sitting on my shelf should the urge appear. FSI never indicated what the cause of failure was.