52 ford car

G

Gerald cook

Member
I’m trying to figure out which carburetor I need for my 52 crestline Victoria with a 239 V/8 3 speed manual with overdrive and a loadamatic distributor. Everything I can see requires a spark control valve on the carburetor base to allow the loadamatic distributor to work properly. I have been using a rebuilt 94 without spark control valve and it doesn’t work well. I’ve built carburetors for a lot of years and several 94’s over the years so I’m fairly sure it was a good rebuild. This leads me to believe that the spark control valve may be what I need. If I’m totally wrong let me know. And help would be greatly appreciated. Gerald
 
What shape is your distributor in? If the vacuum advance isn't working, you have absolutely no advance with a "Load-A-Matic". None. As I stated below, I am almost 100% sure the '52-'53's did not have a spark valve. A proper carburetor should be marked "EAB"; what does yours say?
 
Distributor is in excellent condition. I’ve been researching this for some time. And I have come up with a different conclusion. One site I used was Mike carburetor parts that explained how the spark control valve works and the years ford use the system 1932-1956 there was an early version and a later version. Gerald
 
Gerald cook said:
Distributor is in excellent condition. I’ve been researching this for some time. And I have come up with a different conclusion. One site I used was Mike carburetor parts that explained how the spark control valve works and the years ford use the system 1932-1956 there was an early version and a later version. Gerald
Click to expand...

We must be talking about different things. There is NOTHING in common between the pre-1949 ignition systems and the "Load-A-Matics" that came later.

I use and respect "Mike's Carburetor Parts", but hardly think they are a good source for flathead Ford ignition system information.

I think you should start over.
 
Spark control valves were new in 1954, your flathead does not need one.
The vacuum advance in the stock distributor must be working. The vacuum advance must be connected to the center casting of a 1949 and later carburetor with the provision for the vacuum advance. The cast iron base in the carburetor must have the matching vacuum passage to work with the center section. I have seen all the above wrong, and the engine runs like crap until these basics are corrected.
The stock 8BA carburetor and ignition system work very well as long as the above is correct, the camshaft is stock, and you are running a single carburetor.
 
The thing that looks like a power valve open to atmospheric was used well up into the 60s and maybe later on 6 cylinder 1V carbs. The flathead carbs after 1947 on pickups and 48 on cars used load-o-matic. The Y-blocks used it till 57. Holly designed the carbs and distributors to work together. They have power valves but not spark control valves in the flathead era. They use a venturi vacuum signal to give full advance against stop springs. The spark control valve came along in the Y-block era.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top