[BFBurk]

I have an MSD programmable timing computer#8981 on my 427 Sideoiler. I have had it on my ERA for about 12 years and it works great. I pinned my distributor advance and installed the timing computer. You have to set the distributor for the total advance you want. The timing computer will retard your timing from the distributor setting by looking at your engines RPM's and the settings you have on the timing computer;Initial timing, RPM and slope potentiometers. I set the initial timing for full advance when starting and when I want to drive around town because it seems to improve the idle quality. If I want to get on it I set the initial advance like you do to around 12 to 14 degrees . I think you can only get a total of 20 degrees total electronic advance on a V8 with this timing computer. You need something to generate a trigger so you need a crank trigger or a distributor that is reliable to be part of the system. I use the distributor that was on the sideoiler when I bought it. . MSD may have a newer system now. Good luck!