8ba Distributor on a 59a engine

[CA Victoria]

I have seen discussion on this topic before but cannot find mention of it.
There are a couple of options as I recall to put a 8ba distributor onto a 59a engine.

1 swapping cam & front cover for OEM 8ba parts (how does Dist. Lock down?)
2 Offenhauser cover (does it have a 59a cam adapter?
3 front angle adapter to 59a front cover (does it interfere with stock fan belt?)

Thanks for weighting in.....

[Krylon32]

This is a simple deal. I along with others sell a cam adapter gear which bolts to the front of your 59AB cam. You can use any 49-53 8BA front cover. I drill 2 holes in the top of the neck of the front cover and tap them 5/16 th coarse and use a couple SS set screws to retain the distributor when the timing is set. The main issue is the belt clearance. I can't remember who made them but there were some 59AB pumps made for this conversion several years ago. Maybe Flathead Jack? Also need a different crank hub for belt clearance. I always did this conversion and used one of my 409 waterpump conversions.

[Ol' Ron]

This is very easy to do. You can buy an adapter thst bolts to the cam gear. Just install the 8BA timing cover and any distributor fo an 8ba will work. However. Some of these adaptors
don't run true. I've done this on several engines. ran one on the stockcar back in the 60's
Now I convert the cam to 8BA style,.

[rotorwrench]

The 8BA cam gears may work better too. The 8BA cam can also be used.

[flatjack9]

Use the truck pumps and lower pulley for belt clearance. I also made a spacer to move the generator in to alignment.

[Pete]

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Originally Posted by CA Victoria

I have seen discussion on this topic before but cannot find mention of it.
There are a couple of options as I recall to put a 8ba distributor onto a 59a engine.

1 swapping cam & front cover for OEM 8ba parts (how does Dist. Lock down?)
2 Offenhauser cover (does it have a 59a cam adapter?
3 front angle adapter to 59a front cover (does it interfere with stock fan belt?)

Thanks for weighting in.....

Yes, a 49 to 53 type distributor can be adapted to a 48 and earlier block. There are parts readily available and it is fairly easy to do. Some parts need mods out of the box. Some of the cam nose adapters need drilling for oil which requires the front cam journal being drilled also.
If you have already come by the parts and don't have original type parts, then that is the most practical way to go, BUT, if you are just fooling around modifying things to have something to do, it is NOT the way to go, ignitionwise.
An angle driven ignition will NEVER work as good as a direct driven one, even on a stock engine. Later model stuff does not always equate to better. Usually just cheaper to produce.

There are various ways to lock the distributor. The easiest probably is to drill the block for a set screw.

As far as belt/pulley/pump/distributor clearances, With the right selection of all OEM parts, it will all go together.

[CA Victoria]

Thanks y’all, Great input.
Using my EAB cam with a Mercury front cover that has the support for the lower end of the distributor sounds like the best way to go.
With 8rt pumps & lower pulley, & a smaller Chevy 265 distributor I will have enough room.
Probably best to use the 8ba two belt fan and generator arrangement too?

[AnthonyG]

Originally Posted by Ol' Ron

This is very easy to do. You can buy an adapter thst bolts to the cam gear. Just install the 8BA timing cover and any distributor fo an 8ba will work. However. Some of these adaptors
don't run true. I've done this on several engines. ran one on the stockcar back in the 60's
Now I convert the cam to 8BA style,.

Hi Ol’ Ron where can I buy that adapter gear for the front of the Pre-‘49 engines? I have an 8BA in a ‘35. The front of my 8BA was changed to the earlier engine config to accept crab distributor & also used an earlier cam config. with no gear on the front of the cam. I want to bring back to original 8BA distributor config.
Thx

[cas3]

in post 2 above, gary sells them

[AnthonyG]

Thx Cas, I sent Gary a PM!

[rotorwrench]

I can see modifying an early engine to use a conventional distributor but my first choice would not be the 8BA Load-O Matic. I'd look for a converted centrifugal advance type with vacuum spark load control for road driving. The Load-O-Matic isn't much of an improvement over the old Mallory front mount types as long as they have the 11A advance weights.

[AnthonyG]

Thx Rotowrench, I was just looking for Info on the cam adapter gear which bolts to the front of the 59AB cam. I'd definitely go for a converted centrifugal advance type. Not sure I'll do yet, still considering the $s & work to change! Front timing cover, Dist & Adapter not too bad but i think I'd have to change the water pumps & pulley/belt/ alternator config too. Really runs fine, tune ups r seldom & the only time its a pain. For now still working on the juice brake conversion for this season.
Thx