Chevy distributors for a flathead
 

Are these the right distributors to rebuild for 8BA flathead and if so where do I find the weights, springs and bushings to do this? Or can this be done at home?

Re: Chevy distributors for a flathead
 

Have you looked at Bubba's site?

http://www.bubbasignition.com/loadam...lacements.html

Re: Chevy distributors for a flathead
 

Or check with CharlieNY here on the Barn

Re: Chevy distributors for a flathead
 

Look at our site www.bubbasignition.com. After doing 2500 or so we no longer use any used parts etc.
However i have everything you would need , carefully take the unit apart and let me know what ya need i have tons of it...........cheap , maybe even free ....depends on your progress...?????

Re: Chevy distributors for a flathead
 

It's not just the weights springs and bushings, there is machining involved before they will fit the Ford application.

Re: Chevy distributors for a flathead
 

34,
I occasionally build these distributors and my process is to keep the weights
that are part of a particular distributor with that distributor to insure the contour
of the weights and the 'driver' on the rotor shaft match.....it's just the way I do it.

I choose springs that return the weights to the 'driver' smoothly, not abruptly, that
gets me in the ball park. For maximum advance control all the distributors I've built
in the last few years feature an adjustable stop vs the bushing commonly used. This
stop allows infinite control of max adv without messing with limit bushings. The ad-
justment is by means of an allen set screw and is done with the distributor in place
in the motor.
The machining is not too difficult but you should be somewhat proficient

with lathe and milling work. After building the first distributor of this type for my personal use it became clear that using a set screw to hold the dist in the timing cover was not a good idea....at least that is how i viewed it. Holding the dist in the timing cover is best done in my opinion by providing a clamping pad that duplicates
the Ford Loadamatic design, this method seems to work quite nicely, a bit time consuming but worth the effort.

Any how
PM me and I'll send you my drawings with all dimensions N/C.
Charlie ny

Re: Chevy distributors for a flathead
 

I had one of "Charlie ny"s converted SBC distributors in one of my previous engines. The clamping pad he provides is much better that the set screw method most others use. It fit and performed excellently. Also, you have to change the drive gear on the bottom which ain't a trivial task.

As to the distributors you show in the pictures. They will work, but I personally don't like their appearance; they're too big and bulky, though the parts are easy to get. In my opinion, you would be better off having and earlier, smaller SBC unit, or better yet, an SBC Mallory unit, the earlier, the better. Spare parts are a little more difficult to find, but points, etc pop up on eBal almost daily and Summit has parts for the later units.

Re: Chevy distributors for a flathead
 

I want to thank all who replied. I appreciate it immensely. The one distributor I have is iron and the other 2 are aluminum, is one any better than the other? I guess I will start with the machining work and go from there. Thanks again for all your help!!

Re: Chevy distributors for a flathead
 

I am also running one of Charlie NY's distributors.
This has the adjustable stop as he describes and also combines with an adjutable vaccum advance unit fitted. The distributors used are a Delco Remy
distributor fitted to many model Chevs, the years cant quite recall.
This distributor performs very very well on my 38 PU fitted with an 8BA running a single Stromberg 97 carb. In my opinion the adjustable vaccum unit is worth fitting.
Phil NZ

Re: Chevy distributors for a flathead
 

Charlie's distributors are all I use on my 8BA builds.

Re: Chevy distributors for a flathead
 

SBC and BBC are the same distributors, aren't they?
(I'm not a Chevy guy.....)

Re: Chevy distributors for a flathead
 

An interesting fact about the GM distributor. MSD uses the same exact advance mechanism. except they do not offer an adjustable mechanical advance. We should all thank Richard.

Re: Chevy distributors for a flathead
 

Thanks so much for all the help. It was all much appreciated!! I will commence working on the machining that needs to be done. Thanks again!!!

Re: Chevy distributors for a flathead
 

Hi Ron,
It was our loss when Richard drifted to another hobby. It was in fact a
customer of mine who read your tech articles about how Richard was squeezing
mpg's from his motor. My customer approached me about the adjustable full advance
idea that prompted me incorporate it into my distributors.
I thank you Ron and certainly thank Richard, love have him back.
Charlie ny

Re: Chevy distributors for a flathead
 

Hi Charley
I have 2 boxes ready for shipment, I was working on a third, but with the weather and some health problems, things have slowed down allot, Not having any wheels or a way to drive them, I i do allot of waiting. What's in the first shipment is a test run for the good stuff. It;s all yours. I had to repack them because we thought the "Stuff" might get damaged in shipping. So far I haven;t had any luck finding any distributors, sorry. If all goes well they will be shipped next tues day. Take care
Gramps

Re: Chevy distributors for a flathead
 

What can be added to that ? Ron you are a great friend, so glad Alice and I could spend time with you.
Charlie

Re;; !!A Distributor
 

Do you rebuild or set up the 11A for the early flat heads. ? kerk [email protected]