Load matic Dist
 

Can anyone tell me how a 56 dual vac loadmatic dist is supposed to work? Will it work with a 55 teapot carb?

Re: Load matic Dist
 

http://classicinlines.com/Loadomatic.asp
On the carb swap, others will advice better.

Re: Load matic Dist
 

the 55 uses only 1 vac,line.you will need to change vacuum advance.

Re: Load matic Dist
 

Here is a good thread you might find useful.
http://fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=142689

Re: Load matic Dist
 

The '55, '56, '57 carburetors (& their vacuum ports) and the distributor vacuum advance cans are each year specific and not interchangeable.
But the distributor housings for '55 & '56 are effectively the same, you can change out the '56 vacuum advance can to a '55 style to match the '55 teapot carb.

Pictures below, the different vacuum advance units for: '55, '56, '57

Re: Load matic Dist
 

Part of the calibration for the Load-O-Matic spark advance systems are the primary and secondary springs under the distributor cap. Not saying this is physically possibe, but if using a '56 distributor with a '55 teapot carb, I would use a '55 style vacuum diaphragm on the distributor, along with the '55 primary and secondary springs. Better yet, the entire '55 distributor.

Sal

Re: Load matic Dist
 

I agree. Incomplete solutions are seldom as good in hindsight.
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Re: Load matic Dist
 

FWIW, I say ditch the loadamatic altogether and get yourself a 1957-64 Distributor. You will need new cap because they are different from 55/56 but all caps for 57-64 are the same. Also you will need to modify the Teapot Carb per Ted Eaton's specs on his website if you want vacuum advance. You could always plug the port on your carb though and just run the mechanical advance. Fuel mileage won't be as great however.

When I ditched the load-a-matic years ago my Y block woke up.

Re: Load matic Dist
 

Another good suggestion from Hot Rod reverend. The Load-O-Matic systems to me are a little slow responding and inconsistent. Too many things have to be just right. Even then, mediocre at best. Too me it's for people that are intent on keeping a car 100% original.

Sal

Re: Load matic Dist
 

While you're at it, ditch the manifold for a 57 "B" manifold and your carb options get way better.

Re: Load matic Dist
 

Thanks for all the good info. This is what we have, 56 TBird with a 55 carb and intake. It wasn't working with a later dist. I have a 56 dual vacuum Bird dist, put it in with the one side to the original 55 vacuum port and the other to a vacuum source at the front of the manifold, manifold vacuum. Looked to me the same as using a 56 carb. Still does not seem to work right. It may have a bad vacuum can on one side or the other. Its a friends car, when it comes back to me, I will test it, but I think he will go with a 57 dist and run it without the vacuum advance part.

Re: Load matic Dist
 

If you go with the '57 and up distributor, then the Teapot can be modified to utilize the vacuum advance pod on that particular distributor. Here's the link to the instructions for that.
http://www.eatonbalancing.com/blog/2...-distributors/

Re: Load matic Dist
 

IM ditching mine got a 64 y-block dizzy a pertronix kit an a holley 600 cfm carb.

Re: Load matic Dist
 

Thanks Ted, it looks like that is the way we will be going.

Re: Load matic Dist
 

If the '56 T-Bird (and the '56 T-Bird distributor) has a mechanical drive tachometer and the owner wants to keep that working, a replacement '57 dist will also need to be the tach drive version, and follow Ted's instructions to modify the '55 teapot vacuum port.

A '57 dist is the better one to have, especially if the owner is thinking of doing carb & intake manif upgrades in the future. Prepare to dig pretty deep in the wallet to buy one though. The one I copied the picture of (in comment #5 above) is on ebay for $795.
Mallory makes a mechanical advance (only) Y-Block distributor #3838701, that has a tach drive cable fitting..... $435 on Amazon.
https://www.google.com/search?q=mall...utf-8&oe=utf-8

Just as another option.... and for much less money, the '56 dist you have should be easy to re-work to match the '55 carb, it's mostly the same already.
The '57 tach drive dist I have was a real mess and needed to be totally rebuilt. I saw an ad in Hemmings for a fellow in Denver and had him fix it. (it cost less than half the price of the Mallory)
I can give you his phone number if you want it.
Or, here's a link to the 'Distributor servicing' ads in Hemmings.
http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/...t=Distributors

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Re: Load matic Dist
 

All dist discussed are tach drive dist. I have a 55 and a 56, my friend has a 57 that was in his 56 when he got it. He was thinking more original look, but now has decided to use the tach drive 57 with Teds mods to his 55 carb for his 56 Bird..... confusing sometimes!!

Re: Load matic Dist
 

Ok, not that confusing.
I didn't know you already had a '57 T-Bird/tach drive dist. You're almost done then. (haha)
Good luck with it.

Re: Load matic Dist
 

Do post some pics or details of your work. I also run a loado and it would be cool to se another swap. Maybe someday I may grow enough courage..
Good luck