Y Block Distributor fix

BUBBAS IGNITION

BUBBAS IGNITION

Well-known member
Some days stuff works good and some they dont. This one did.
Got the distributor out of a 53-54 Lincoln being restored . Distributor had tons of issues and is a pretty hard to find item...
Noticed the drive gear had a tooth broken but the distributor looks like the Y block unit with spade drive for oil pump.
A search thru the core box found a comparable unit to build.....should work fine...
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The one you picked to replace the Linc is a 1955-56 Ford Y-Block distributor (load-o-matic). Apparently you modified the original hex-socket oil pump drive shaft to accomodate the linc straight-blade drive. Nobody would know the difference unless they saw the slotted stiffeners at the base of the dizzy housing.
Is it possible to convert one of those to mechanical advance without modifying the depth of the upper housing?
 
Daves55Sedan said:
The one you picked to replace the Linc is a 1955-56 Ford Y-Block distributor (load-o-matic). Apparently you modified the original hex-socket oil pump drive shaft to accomodate the linc straight-blade drive. Nobody would know the difference unless they saw the slotted stiffeners at the base of the dizzy housing.
Is it possible to convert one of those to mechanical advance without modifying the depth of the upper housing?
Click to expand...



Our fix for the load a matic has been to take another distributor with mechanical advance and machine a new "butt" or lower end to match the orginal oil pump drive etc using the orginal lower end. I call these butt changes.
Doing some 223 six cylinders now as well...
 
BUBBAS IGNITION said:
Our fix for the load a matic has been to take another distributor with mechanical advance and machine a new "butt" or lower end to match the orginal oil pump drive etc using the orginal lower end. I call these butt changes.
Doing some 223 six cylinders now as well...
Click to expand...

You wouldn't need to go to the trouble. Anyone can just use a '57 or later Y-block distributor if they wanted to covert to mechanical advance. it is completely interchangable without need for modifications.
But the '57 and later dizzy looks different than the '55, so it would be easy to tell just by looking at it that someone just used the later model dizzy.
I meant, is there room in the original 55/56 dizzy housing to convert it to mech, without changing the outside appearance?
 
Daves55Sedan said:
You wouldn't need to go to the trouble. Anyone can just use a '57 or later Y-block distributor if they wanted to covert to mechanical advance. it is completely interchangable without need for modifications.
But the '57 and later dizzy looks different than the '55, so it would be easy to tell just by looking at it that someone just used the later model dizzy.
I meant, is there room in the original 55/56 dizzy housing to convert it to mech, without changing the outside appearance?
Click to expand...



Not really , the load a matic doesnt have any extra space under the point plate....

What years Y block used the spade drive for the oil pump??
 
please appreciate1 i have a 56 f250 272 y and trying to get rid of the loadacrapic distributor i ordered a replacment through a so called specialist and sent one for a 360 ford, i have seen them on rock auto as my replacment came thro them but they no help as i need the upgrade mech vac and they want a year which i have not, if i give mine just gets mae another loadamatic
 

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Just order a distributor for a '62 to '64 F100. Those have mechanical and vacuum advance and are a drop in upgrade.

RockAuto shows a Cardone reman for $80.89 + $30.00 core charge, part number 302808.
 
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I know almost nothing about the late 50's trucks, but will assume :confused: y-block carburetor, intake and distributor parts in the cars and light trucks are similar for the years '55, '56 & '57.

I hope someone with more knowledge corrects me or adds more information.


Ford made some changes to the carburetors, intake manifolds and distributors in '55, '56 & '57 that are *one-year-only* specific. If they are mixed with others from different years they most often will not operate correctly.

A mechanical & vacuum advance substitute for your loadomatic distributor could come from a y-block '57 to '62 Ford car, or a y-block '57 to '64 truck (F100/F250).
BUT, the vacuum pressure from your '56 carburetor fitting for the loadomatic distributor timing may not be the correct pressure to properly operate the vacuum chamber on a newer distributor.

Your '56 intake manifold may have a different (3 bolt) carburetor bolt pattern than most '57 and newer carburetors (4 bolt) and may require an adapter to install the newer carburetors, or changing to a '57/'64 intake manifold.

You could, find/purchase an after-market (non-Ford) *mechanical advance only* distributor.

The loadomatic distributors are adequate for most needs if they are functioning correctly. They are subject to wear like any other part and because they are *vacuum only* the timing advance will not function at all if the diaphragm is damaged, 99.9% certain in a 60 yr old part.
The diaphragm chamber is easily replaceable if you can locate the part. In addition, the entire distributor can most likely be rebuilt to 'as new' condition. See this link below for some rebuilding sources...

https://www.hemmings.com/classified...ar_max=&categoryFacet=&country=&q=distributor

I copied and added your previous two photos below, for others to see.
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many thanks appreciate, ive done away with the single carb and modified inlet for 4 barrel however have a propper 4 barrel inlet coming,cost enough! didnt realise the loadamatic not work with non standard carb so hoping when it all comes together should wake her up, the x over pipes had to go, was lucky to find used ram horns locally
 
heres my inlet mod, put good few hundred miles on, heres the propper 4 barrel inlet got coming
 

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Yes the old loadomatic dist in your second photo (above) won't work right hooked to that newer 4 bbl carb. Most any '57 or newer y-block dist should work fine with that carb and intake manif.

You need to find a real hot air source for the choke thermostat. (not the hose to the top of the carb)
Often there's a fitting on the passenger side of the exhaust crossover in the ECZ-B manifold.
Or use an electric choke heater (photo 2), it looks like you already have one, just plug or cap both ends of the rubber hose coming out of the choke housing.

I'm not seeing a ballast resistor in your photos, it may be up on the firewall above the distributor.
It should look like photo 3 or 4 and be connected between the ignition wire from the key switch and the '+' terminal of the coil.
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my loadamatic has pertronix conversion by previous owner, probobally best part about it eh! i am hoping to swap it over if fits new one, never had a choke on last carb, was never a problem starting here, couple taps on pedal prior to cranking, and thats with a worn out distributor my home done inlet conversion it ran, but fact a v8 probobally hid a multitude of sins compared to a four where if one cyl down you detect it straight away plus i have nothing to compare engine to my last v8 a 440ci
 
cudaboy said:
my loadamatic has pertronix conversion by previous owner, ... i am hoping to swap it over if fits new one, ....
Click to expand...
The dist housing, points, dist cap, rotor and advance mechanism were all changed from '56 to '57.
I don't think so... :(

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