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MSD 8573 1949-53 Flathead Ford V8 Electronic Distributor

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#5478573

MSD 8573 1949-53 Flathead Ford V8 Electronic Distributor

Name: MSD 8573 1949-53 Flathead Ford V8 Electronic Distributor
Brand: MSD
SKU: 5478573
Price: 899.95 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.9 (8 reviews)

8 Reviews

8 Questions

Features a HEI/male cap and terminal style
Maintenance free magnetic pickup for unsurpassed reliability
Designed to fit the 1949-1953 Ford Flathead V8 engines

$899.95

/each

In Stock

$956.95

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Product Summary

HEI / Male Cap Type, HEI / Male Cap Terminal Style, Red

Features a HEI/male cap and terminal style
Maintenance free magnetic pickup for unsurpassed reliability
Designed to fit the 1949-1953 Ford Flathead V8 engines
Housing material is made from billet aluminum and features a natural finish
Shaft diameter measures 0.47"

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Key Specs

MFG. Part #	8573
Brand	MSD
Cap Type	HEI / Male
Advance Type	Mechanical and Vacuum

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Need To Know

Need help?

855.313.9176

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Quick and Easy Returns

Return Policy

Installation Details

Distributors Installation Instructions (5478573)

Installation Tips

Must use spacer # 910-1010 when using this distributor with our flathead front timing cover # 910-15632.

Powerful built-in module produces a 7.5 amp single spark through high rpm
Easy-to-adjust mechanical advance with supplied springs and stop bushings
Vacuum advance canister for improved economy (can be locked out)
Maintenance-free magnetic pickup and precision reluctor create stable trigger signals throughout the rpm range
CNC machined billet aluminum housing and billet aluminum base
Polished steel shaft is QPQ coated and guided by a sealed ball bearing
Advance plate and weights are fine blanked from chromoly steel and QPQ coated for friction reduction
Mechanical advance assembly can be locked out for crank trigger systems
Advance weight pins are staked and tig welded to the plate
Nylon pads ensure smooth operation of the advance weights
Accepts Cap-A-Dapts
Does not require an MSD Ignition Control

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Call one of our U.S.-based customer service professionals.

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MSD 8573 Details

Early Flathead racers and cruisers alike will be excited to see these front mount flathead distributors! MSD Ready-to-Run distributors do not need an external control box, so theres a simple and clean installation with only three wires to connect. Features a maintenance free magnetic pickup for unsurpassed reliability. Has HEI style terminals. For 12 volt negative ground applications only.

Designed for 1949-1953 Ford Flathead V8 engines.

Charts

547-8573 Instructions(PDF)

Guides & Documents

Distributors Installation Instructions (5478573)

Warranty Information

For warranty information, please visit http://www.msdhelp.com/

CARB Warning

For race/ off road use or for use on pre-1966 vehicles.

Emissions warning: this part only legal for sale or use in California for racing (competition) vehicles which may never be used, registered, or licensed for use upon a public highway, or if installed in vehicles model-year 1965 or older; motorcycles model-year 1977 or older; or off-highway recreational vehicles (such as off-road motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles) model-year 1996 and older. Any other use renders the vehicle tampered and not legal for use on California public highways (any public street or roadway, public dirt road, public park, or publicly maintained right of way open to the use of the public for vehicular travel). Violations subject to $37,500 penalty per violation per vehicle, revocation of registration, loss of use on California public right of ways, and proof of correction for tampering. There are similar restrictions and penalties under federal law and the laws of all other states with penalties under federal law of up to approximately $45,268 per tampered vehicle and/or engine.

CA WARNING:

Can expose you to lead, a carcinogen and reproductive toxicant. See www.P65Warnings.ca.gov

CARB warning

MSD 8573 Specifications

KEY SPECS
MFG. Part #	8573
Brand	MSD
Cap Type	HEI / Male
Advance Type	Mechanical and Vacuum

GENERAL
External Ignition Box Required	No
Cap Terminal Style	HEI / Male
Trigger Style	Magnetic
Hall Effect	No
Sync Signal	No
Trigger Sensors	Single
Gear Material	Iron
Gear Rotation	Standard
Distributor Cap Color	Red
Ignition Box Required	No
Mechanical Tach Drive	No
Slip Collar	Yes
Housing Material	Billet Aluminum
Housing Finish	Natural
Shaft Diameter	0.47"
Rotor Rotation	Clockwise
Marine Use	No
Sold in Quantity	Each
Notes	Pigtail & Hardware is included
GTIN Code	085132085736

Ratings & Reviews

4.9

8 Reviews

Overall Assessment

Customers highly recommend our MSD Distributor, praising it for its excellent quality and easy installation. Many attest it as a necessary improvement for their 8ba flathead, and value it for resolving timing issues. They deem it superior to other options due to its practicality and performance-enhancing features. Users appreciate its straightforward directions, ease of wiring, and overall practicality. They note that it may stick out slightly more than stock distributors, but it doesn't affect its usability or effectiveness. A minor critique is the need to adjust the distributor's height-setting part, but customers still consider it as a perfect choice for their builds.

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4.9

8 reviews

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Great product!

5.0

5 years ago

Wayne

Hanover PA

Verified

No complaints at all. Looks great and works fine. Unfortunately it did not fix the problem that I was chasing but it definitely needed replaced, as my old distributor was not giving me any advance at all. This MSD was the right choice. Very easy to install. I would highly recommend it to anyone needing a distributor for a Flathead.

Would Recommend

I would buy this again

5.0

6 years ago

Ken

Utah

Verified

This product lives up to its reputation

Would Recommend

I would buy this again

5.0

6 years ago

Douglas

Franklin, TN

Verified

Great dizzy!! I put on the springs and bushing and it was dead on when my buddy curved it!

Would Recommend

Excellent brought my flathead alive

5.0

7 years ago

A bomb tim

Berkley Ma.

Verified

Worth the investment. Wish they sold repair parts.

MSD Distributor! Easy to Install

5.0

8 years ago

Flathead Bill

Sandusky, Ohio

Verified

Just received my MSD Electronic Distributor for my 8BA Ford Flathead and it installed in minutes. The directions were easy to follow and wiring is a snap! Great product just as advertised.

Would Recommend

Excellent product.

5.0

9 years ago

Gbags

C.t.

Verified

This is hands down one of the best improvements I've made to my 8ba flathead. I have been making myself crazy trying to get timing correct for about a year with the loadomatic junk and various other options. I'm running a Holley 390, isky cam, and all the goodies. This distributor makes everything come together. Do yourselves a favor don't waste your time with anything else if your building a hot flathead. The only downside I can see with this unit is it doesn't look like I could use the hood sides on my 36 Ford as the distributor sticks out a bit further than stock ( I don't run them anyhow).

Would Recommend

Perfect replacement flathead performance distributor

5.0

10 years ago

Vintageiron

Southern, Oregon

Verified

Perfect choice for my flathead build.

Would Recommend

One small problem

4.0

11 years ago

Poes 1950 F3

North Carolina

Verified

In order to install this I had to use my Dremel tool to enlarge the hole on the part used to set the distributor at the correct height. I would think MSD would have ensure the part would just slip and be installed by the set screw.

Would Recommend

Showing 8 of 8 reviews

Questions & Answers

8 Questions • 9 Answers

Sort Questions

will this unit (msd 8573) work with the overdrive "cut out" installed on the neg. coil wire, or will this cause a problem over time, 1953 ford tudor flat v8

by jay

• 7 years ago

1 answer

View Answer

Can you use this MSD distributor with a stock engine and carb. Holley 94. Where do you connect the vacuum advance to the Holley 94 or the intake manifold??

by Irv

• 7 years ago

1 answer

View Answer

Is this taller than the stock distributor? My powergen is offset to this side and clearance is tight.

by Dan

• 8 years ago

1 answer

View Answer

I have a 51 Mercury Flathead v8 with Edelbrock aluminum heads and this distributor. Does anyone know what hold down clamp I should purchase? Thank you.

by 46 Ford Truck

• 9 years ago

2 answers

View Answers

Will the MSD 8573 1949-53 Flathead Ford V8 Electronic Distributor work with the stock Ford timing cover? I have a 1953 Mercury 255 Cubic inch flathead.

by Roger

• 9 years ago

1 answer

View Answer

Does this distributor come with a drive gear? What coil will work in unison with this distributor?

by Sigs

• 9 years ago

1 answer

View Answer

will this fit a 1955 mercury 255 v8

by Ron

• 10 years ago

1 answer

View Answer

Is there a Ford socket type distributor cap available to fit instead of the HEI type?

by Scott

• 10 years ago

1 answer

View Answer

8 of 8 questions shown

Fitment

1953 Ford Club

255 Ford Flathead V8
337 Ford Flathead V8

1953 Ford Country Sedan

255 Ford Flathead V8
337 Ford Flathead V8

1953 Ford Country Squire

255 Ford Flathead V8
337 Ford Flathead V8

1953 Ford Crestline

255 Ford Flathead V8
337 Ford Flathead V8

1949 Ford Custom

255 Ford Flathead V8
337 Ford Flathead V8

1953 Ford Customline

255 Ford Flathead V8
337 Ford Flathead V8

1953 Ford F-100

255 Ford Flathead V8
337 Ford Flathead V8

1953 Ford F-250

255 Ford Flathead V8
337 Ford Flathead V8

1953 Ford F-350

255 Ford Flathead V8
337 Ford Flathead V8

1949-1952 Ford F1

255 Ford Flathead V8
337 Ford Flathead V8

1949-1952 Ford F2

255 Ford Flathead V8
337 Ford Flathead V8

1949-1952 Ford F3

255 Ford Flathead V8
337 Ford Flathead V8

1953 Ford Mainline

255 Ford Flathead V8
337 Ford Flathead V8

1953 Ford Ranch Wagon

255 Ford Flathead V8
337 Ford Flathead V8

1953 Ford Sunliner

255 Ford Flathead V8
337 Ford Flathead V8

1953 Ford Victoria

255 Ford Flathead V8
337 Ford Flathead V8

1952-1953 Mercury Custom

255 Ford Flathead V8
337 Ford Flathead V8

1949-1952 Mercury Mercury

255 Ford Flathead V8
337 Ford Flathead V8

1950-1953 Mercury Monterey

255 Ford Flathead V8
337 Ford Flathead V8