Jeep Strokers

This may sound like a dumb question , But here goes why do you have to cut the "Ear off the factory dist." To idex it correctly? When useing an after market cam?

The aftermarket cams don't have the gear ground into them in the appropriate indexing to use the OE index ears on the distributor, it must be rotated in order to index properly and the ears don't permit that, thus the removal of them.

also, knowing full well you cant adjust spark by twisting the dist like on older engines, anyone tried using a 258 hold down yet?