Ready-to-Run Distributor, Black Cap, Steel Gear — Ford 289/302, Racing Use Only
Black cap. Steel gear. Competition only. One caveat first: MSD lists this one as Emission Code 4 - racing use only. Settle that before anything else. If you want the blacked-out look and a steel gear in the same distributor; this is the combination. The gear is what makes it: Melonized QPQ coated; installed and set at the correct height; ready for a hydraulic roller camshaft out of the box. That skips the part of a Ford gear change nobody wants - the pressed fit; the cross-drilling; the height setting. Ready-to-Run means self-contained; so there is no ignition box to mount; ground or feed.
Install Level: Intermediate - distributor swap; timing must be set
Emission Code 4 - racing use only; competition vehicles only.
Steel gear installed and set - hydraulic roller camshafts.
No MSD ignition control required.
Vacuum advance mechanism included.
Weight pins staked and TIG welded.
Ignition coil not included.
Black cap. Steel gear. Competition only.
A Ready-to-Run Pro-Billet distributor for Ford 289 and 302 combining a small diameter black cap with a Melonized QPQ steel gear for hydraulic roller cams. One caveat first: MSD lists this one as Emission Code 4, racing use only.
If you want the blacked-out look and a steel gear in the same distributor, this is the combination. The gear is what makes it: Melonized QPQ coated, installed and set at the correct height, ready for a hydraulic roller camshaft out of the box.
That saves the part of a Ford gear change nobody wants. The gear is a pressed fit that normally requires cross-drilling the shaft and setting height precisely, so skipping it keeps the build moving. MSD's reasoning applies across the line: matching gear to cam material prevents premature failure of the cam or gear.
Ready-to-Run means self-contained — no ignition box to mount, ground, or feed — and a vacuum advance mechanism is included. Housing and base are CNC machined billet aluminum, with weight pins staked and TIG welded. Be clear on the emissions designation: Code 4 is competition vehicles only.
What's In the Box
The distributor and what ships with it:
- x1 Pro-Billet Ready-to-Run Distributor — CNC Billet Housing and Base
- x1 Small Diameter Black Distributor Cap
- x1 Rotor
- x1 Vacuum Advance Mechanism
- Advance Springs and Stop Bushings
- x1 Steel Gear, Melonized QPQ Coated, Installed
- Not included: ignition coil
- Fits: Ford 289 / 302 small block V8. Requires: no MSD ignition control.
- Gear: Steel, Melonized QPQ — for hydraulic roller cams. A flat tappet cam needs a different gear.
- Cap: Small Diameter, Black. Color: Black per the spec table.
- Emissions: Code 4 — racing use only, for unregistered competition vehicles. Prop 65 warning.
- Warranty: 1 Year Limited.
CNC machined billet aluminum housing and base
Small diameter black distributor cap
Ready-to-Run - self-contained; no ignition box required
Vacuum advance mechanism included
Advance springs and stop bushings supplied
Weight pins staked and TIG welded
Steel gear - Melonized QPQ coated; installed
Emission Code 4 - racing use only
Includes: distributor; small diameter black cap; rotor; vacuum advance mechanism; installed steel gear; advance springs and stop bushings
Not included: ignition coil
Competition vehicles only - Emission Code 4.
Hydraulic roller camshafts - steel gear installed.
No MSD ignition control required.
