Thread: Distributor installation

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I would replace it with a Petronix system. I haven't had very good luck with Accel anything, but I've had good results with Petronix.

NTFDAY, Thanks for the tip! Just for the record, at Advanced Auto the SBC points distributors are starting to get rare, so the search for the part is a bit like the old restorer game!

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

If you can't find one I'll look around and see if I find a rebuildable one in all of my junk in the garage. If I have one you can have it for the shipping.

NTFDAY, Thanks for the offer, I will keep it in mind. I am supposed to pick up one from Advanced tomorrow morning, but this is the second try. The first try produced a "remanufactured" unit which had one ear with the centrifigal weight bent at about a 30 degree angle! When "we" searched the Advanced Auto network, most stores in Virginia had zero units of that type but one store in Roanoke Va had 13 units, so if I just keep reordering one until I get a good one I should be OK but it is interesting that what was once the "Heartbeat of America" is starting to look like a restorers quest now! The Petronix unit is just slightly more expensive than the Accel unit but the Petronix unit is rated to an amazing 15,000 rpm so it must be a pretty good unit worth the extra $10. Just for discussion on this thread a smaller unit for about $185 from Mallory has dual points and has a base of only 3 5/8" diameter and sure to fit my firewall, but other sources have warned that the dual points have weak springs which will allow point float at a relatively low rpm. So the idea of a magnetic points units for a lower total price seems like a good idea and the Petronix unit seems like the best of the several available units, thanks for the tip.

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

I have a Mallory dual point in the Mustang and I changed it out for a Petronix unit as the continual adjustment of the points became too much of a hassle. I opted for their matching coil and I did the same when I changed to a Petronix unit in the 73 F100. FWIW, the Petronix unit can wreak havoc on certain tachs, but as I recall there is a unit available to cure the problem.

...ahhhhhh one of the JOYS of a FORD engine - with no dist to firewall clearance problems!!! (yeah the pan.....)

Don, another to consider tho a bit expensive(tho consider how many other $$$ you have invested) is the MSD small diameter, ready to run version

http://www.msdignition.com/Products/...stributor.aspx

OR

Small diameter version
http://www.msdignition.com/Products/...stributor.aspx

I was gonna say the same thing IC2 said: aftermarket small housing; all of the majors make them.