Yet another distributor question

[Anonymous]

I did a search on this and read many articles but am still confused. I am coming to the end of my Big Bell 200 install. The engine came from a junkyard and does not have the original distributor as it has points in it and the Big Bell was 81-83. I had installed Petronix/flamethrower in the 170 before it died so I have that. The distributor in it now has a flying saucer looking thing on the side with vacumn ports in front and behind both pointing up. Is that the loadamatic? If so can I use the petronix with it, if I need a new distributor should I just buy the whole DSII setup.

Tks, Don

 

[CobraSix]

It sounds like you have a dual vacuum advance distributer that you are talking about. I did some testing as I have 3 distributers now, 1 dual vac, 1 vac/mech, and one DS2. My pertronix unit fit just fine between my dual vac and vac/mechanical distributors with no problems and it ran just fine on either.

I would steer away from the dual-vac distributor as I've been told it can be a real bugger to get working right.

Slade

 

[Anonymous]

So if I need to buy one I should just buy the DS2 and be done with it. Will the Petronix work in the DS2 or does that negate the point of having it?

 

[CobraSix]

you will not need (and can not use) the pertronix for DS2 ignition. The DS2 has a magnetic pick up similiar to Pertronix. Just remember that you need more then just the distributor for the DS2 ignition upgrade.

Slade

 

[Anonymous]

Read the tech article on installing a DSII in the Tech section and decide if that is the way to go.

I have run both on my 68 block and I would recommend the DII if you are not looking for stock. It was a bit more expensive than the Petronix, but worth it. I noticed a difference right away.

I am runnin a MSD 6A with the Ford Harness adapter.
It was very simple... took about two hours and I was on the road.

If you go with the traditional type distributor just make sure to match the correct distributor with your carb. You can probably just go into NAPA or the like and get a single advance unit for the Block you are using then run your petronix on that.

Or go the DSII route.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone.

I will try to just get it running today with the dist that's there and do the DS2 ungrade in the next few weeks myself. I'm losing my free mechanic<brother> for 8 weeks starting this weekend. We have been pushing to finish and I better not add anything else to the mix right now. Hope to fire it up tonight. If hooking up only one vacumn source to the loadamatic would it be the inner or outer?

Thanks Again,
Don

 

[Anonymous]

IIRC...

It is Inner for Full Vacume and Outer for Ported Vacume from the carb... but if you are not running an Autolite1100 then the Loadomatic Dizzy will not run right.
You need one with Centrifugal or mechaincal advance... the 5200 does not have the right parts to work the Loadomatic... i.e. no spark valve or something...

Someone Correct me if I am wrong but this was my running problem for almost a year with my CarterYF and it ran horrible.... it took too long to figure that out.

 

[MustangSix]

The outermost port is the one you should hook up in this application, leaving the other one open. Vacuum applied to the inner port causes the advance to retard. That was an emissions strategy to further reduce cylinder pressure and temperature to lower NOx levels. You don't need it.

I would set initial timing to between 12 and 14 degrees and hook it to ported vacuum. Later you can get a new vacuum canister with a single port.

 

[Anonymous]

I'll have to go with Slade on this one. That is the vaccum type you have. Yes, I do believe the Pertonix will work fine, but it is just up to you, you would not have to have the Pertronix if you went with the DSII