Stromberg e fire fitment in later timing covers

[Alberta50fordor]

Has anyone else had issues with getting the stromberg e-fire in the later 8ba aluminum timing covers with the bottom support? To get it in my engine I had to clearance the lower half of the upper bore in the cover

 

[tubman]

I would suggest not spending a lot of time and effort trying to adapt a questionable distributor for a use for which it was not intended. This would seem to be a likely path to failure.

 

[19Fordy]

tubmanm makes an excellent point. If it doesn't fit the cover, don't use it. The 8BA Surefire distributor add claims they fit all styles of 8BA front covers. However, from your experience, this seems not to be so. Can you post a photo of the entire distributor showing the shaft and gear?
https://stromberg-97.com/distributors/e-fire-electronic-distributor-8ba-12v-neg/

 

[Alberta50fordor]

It looks like it was meant more for the cast iron covers without the lower support
I got it in mine last year by taking the flapper to the inside of the cover where the stock distributer doesn’t touch

The reason I’m trying to get it in this other car is because I’ve been chasing ignition problems, this other car has a 255 with dual 94’s on an offenhauser offset dual, currently has a stock distributer, recently switched it over to 12v for a better spark(on 6v it would cut out at higher rpm) everything I’ve read about running multiple carbs says a mechanical advance distributer is needed, this car has no power going uphill
(Little off topic but that’s the story lol)

 

[petehoovie]

It looks like it was meant more for the cast iron covers without the lower support
I got it in mine last year by taking the flapper to the inside of the cover where the stock distributer doesn’t touch

The reason I’m trying to get it in this other car is because I’ve been chasing ignition problems, this other car has a 255 with dual 94’s on an offenhauser offset dual, currently has a stock distributer, recently switched it over to 12v for a better spark(on 6v it would cut out at higher rpm) everything I’ve read about running multiple carbs says a mechanical advance distributer is needed, this car has no power going uphill
(Little off topic but that’s the story lol)

 

[cadillac512]

You're probably correct that the distributor was made to fit the iron covers, but if you've clearanced the alum cover then it should do just fine. The stock Loadamatic distributor has only vacuum advance that operates from a special circuit in the stock single carb. It won't work with anything else, so you're doing the right thing trying alternatives. That E Fire should work well as far as mechanical advance goes. Try to get approx 22-26 degrees by 2500 rpm or so, and that should be the limit.

 

[Bored&Stroked]

Are you saying that the shaft diameter below the gear is the wrong size . . . or that the shaft is the wrong length? What was the exact issue here?

 

[V8 Bob]

I did some checking to verify the 8BA alloy front cover with the lower support WILL accept ALL aftermarket distributors with a stepped "iron style" lower housing IF they were machined correctly.


My 8BA alloy distributor's short upper housing diameter measures 1.060"


My stock iron distributor's upper support also measures 1/060".


The stock iron's middle support measures .963", and slides easily into the alloy cover.


My Mallory dual point measures 1.060" and .958", and also easily fits the alloy cover.


The Mallory has the common aftermarket stepped lower housing WITH an extended shaft that is intended to fit ALL 8BA style front covers; direct fit to the lower supported alloy cover, or iron/alloy covers without the lower support by simply cutting/shortening the shaft and reinstalling the gear.


Alberta50fordor, your new distributor housing is/was just slightly oversize at the first step down on the housing. Adding some cover clearance like you did was an easy fix.