Ignition Distributors

Upgrading your factory-style distributor or adding a performance ignition distributor to your new engine build will improve and maximize both ignition power and performance. Performance distributors provide precise timing and are made with modern technology that increases reliability. This results in quicker starting, smoother idle, improved fuel mileage, and better throttle response.

Once a performance ignition distributor is installed and the engine timing is set, no further work is needed with an ignition system throughout the rest of each of its component's life. An electronic distributor upgrade will eliminate the maintenance that would be required with breaker point ignition systems by removing the need for adjustments required due to wear. This improves reliability and consistency of your engine's performance.

In ignition distributor's primary function is to distribute spark to each spark plug at the precise time. The voltage is supplied by the ignition coil, which is powered by the battery. The distributor is mechanically driven by the camshaft for most domestic V8 engines. With a single or dual points and condenser setup, the points open and close based on the distributor rotor position, properly timing spark distribution to each cylinder. An input signal is fed to an ignition module in electronic ignition distributors via a pickup coil and reluctor. As the distributor shaft rotates, it sends a signal that lets the module know where it is in the rotation. The module then triggers the ignition coil to send voltage to the center of the distributor cap where it will jump to the spark plug wire terminal directly above it. With optical distributor ignitions, an LED light beam is used and received by a photo receptor between "windows" cut into an interrupter wheel. This creates a pulse that tells the coil when to fire. In most ignition systems, the voltage from the coil converts to a spark which jumps to the center of the distributor rotor and out to its edge where it jumps to the distributor cap terminal closest to it. The spark then travels through the spark plug wires to the spark plug, where the ignition of fuel and air mixture in the cylinder head combustion chamber occurs.

Between 2000 and 2005 most US domestic engines, including Ford, Chevrolet, and Chrysler/Dodge phased out the electronic distributor and transitioned to distributorless ignition systems.

Many manufacturers including Mallory, Proform, Speedmaster, Accel, Holley, and others manufacturer performance ignition distributors. JEGS offers these brands and more with distributors for sale fitting most Chevy, Ford, and Chrysler engines.