8BA Distributor- Full Race Flathead help
 

8BA Distributor- Full Race Flathead, All dressed up but can’t go to the dance :(,
… I received no Distributor with a used 8BA I bought with only 3k miles, according to the Machine Shop Bill it was Bored 30 over Ross Pistons & Rods & MCF Stroked 4 ¼” it has a Potvin super full race street grind 375 lift 280 duration, It came with a Offy 2x2 intake & Edelbrock 9.2-1 Heads. My question is until I can find an old Mallory flat cap can an original 8BA load-a-matic be converted to use for the vacuum needed? I really can’t bring myself to use a converted chevy and drill holes in the timing chain cover.
Thanks for any help :), Ric

Re: 8BA Distributor- Full Race Flathead help
 

Considering all the modifications yo have already made to the engine, why except less than the best in ignitions. Yo could use the MSD which is the same as the SBC unit. Tuning any engine is the key to performance and economy.

Re: 8BA Distributor- Full Race Flathead help
 

Get a converted Chevy dist, you wont regret it.
I couldn't believe how well my 52 Merc motor runs runs with it.

Re: 8BA Distributor- Full Race Flathead help
 

Don't believe there is much of any way you could get the original load a matic to work with that engine (for a lot of reasons). The original distributor depends on the vacuum from an original style carb to provide the distributor advance. You are not going to be able to reproduce the correct vacuum signal with an engine modified to this extent.

As others have ask, why would you want to hamper the performance of your engine in this way? It just doesn't add up to even attempt something along these lines. If you are determined to keep the engine all Ford parts (which almost nothing is except the block now!) you could change to front cover to used a crab distributor.

There are aftermarket options such a Mallory, just realize they will almost all be based on the Chevy design. If it makes you feel any better Chevy had a tendency to purchase almost everything from supplies (who most likely supplied other manufactures) so the only thing that makes it Chevy is the specification. Modify the specification for your application and now it's no longer a Chevy distributor, it's a specialized/custom flathead distributor.

Re: 8BA Distributor- Full Race Flathead help
 

Ron
Haven’t done anything yet, I just bought it. I'm looking for alternatives to sbc + its an open wheel traditional Deuce Hi-Boy Coupe w/o a Hood and every time I walk by it I'll see a chebie part.
never the less I respect your opinion, Ric

Re: 8BA Distributor- Full Race Flathead help
 

A few years back, I had a 318 Mopar dizzy converted to 8 BA specs on the bottom. The curve was very close to perfect for the flathead. I used six degrees of initial as per Ole Ron, and 26 total. It is a reliable ignition and the car ran great. I used a new harness from the dizzy to the mod box, and the harness was long enough to place the mod box under the dash out of sight.

Re: 8BA Distributor- Full Race Flathead help
 

Ralph
Ya I hear good things about them. especially tempting for me would be the tach drive model, but they’re not giving them away and I’m savin-up for a ol flat cap Mallory.
Ric

Re: 8BA Distributor- Full Race Flathead help
 

Get a converted Chevy distributor from Hot Rod Bubba. I've used several and they were flawless.

Re: 8BA Distributor- Full Race Flathead help
 

Or call Bubba and see if he happens to have a rebuilt Mallory ready to go. I just put an engine together for a friend (276 incher, same cam as you) - and he contacted Bubba and got a very reasonable deal on a distributor all setup to go.

Re: 8BA Distributor- Full Race Flathead help
 

Ric,
If Bubba does not have Mallory for you I might be able to help. I have two fresh chevy Mallorys that I converted to 8ba both with the mechanical tach drive. One has the
conventional Mallory 2 piece cap the other began life as a chevy marine distributor and features the typical Ford crab cap....that's correct the Ford style crab cap.....the
crab cap on this one however is a NOS vintage Mallory high dialectric brown cap.
If you are interested shoot me a PM or email any time at your convenience.
Charlie ny
[email protected]

Re: 8BA Distributor- Full Race Flathead help
 

Ric,

Re the Load-a-matic distributor: As a temporary measure, here's what I did with a '50 Merc engine in a '40 coupe: The engine was 0.060 over, Edelbrock heads, super dual Offenhauser with two 94's, and an L100 cam. The Load-a-matic distributor comes with two springs on the breaker plate. Since the vacuum signal would be reduced on account of dual carbs, I removed one of the springs. A tiny amount of suction (1-2 mmHg) would produce rotation of the plate. I hooked the vacuum line to one of the carbs, rotated the distributor until I was satisfied with the idle and starting. That engine ran like stink. Very unorthodox methodology, but it worked for me.

I thought the modification would be temporary, but I was so pleased with the performance that I used it that way until the car was sold. Just my two cents. Richard

Re: 8BA Distributor- Full Race Flathead help
 

Richard
… Now that’s what I was looking for some old timey ingenuity.
Now hopefully I’ll be able to run it on a test stand and listen to the music, and motivate me to shop for the proper Distributor.
Thank you, Ric

Re: 8BA Distributor- Full Race Flathead help
 

Ric,

You are welcome. Hope it works for you. BTW, I can't remember which of the two springs I removed.....I'm presuming it may make a difference. Hope you'll let us know how it turns out for you.
Richard

Re: 8BA Distributor- Full Race Flathead help
 

‘JSeery’
You gave me a lot to chew on -
I don’t want to run the load-a-matic forever, “My question is until I can find an old Mallory flat cap” If I understand correctly the 8BA Mallory FH Dist Body has the same sort of ledge for the old-down so I don’t have to drill set screw hole in the Timing Chain Cover for a Chevy Dist.
I would love to run a Duel Point Crab, but an 8BA Cam is too long isn’t it?
thanks for the input, Ric

Re: 8BA Distributor- Full Race Flathead help
 

If you are hung up on the tab to mate to the head to hold the distributor, I think the chevy conversions come with this tab. My chevy distributor from Charlie has it.

Re: 8BA Distributor- Full Race Flathead help
 

SBC Flat cap Mallory's show up regularly at swap meets (I've bought them as low as $40, complete, just last year) also managed to find deals on NOS caps and points. Street rod guys want billet MSD, not that old points crap.

Run one down, get it converted and you're in business.

Re: 8BA Distributor- Full Race Flathead help
 

As to original Mallory parts, if you're into this stuff, buy all you can now. NOS caps used to be in the $45 to $75 range; now I see them at over $300. Used caps are almost as much. I have been buying this stuff for the last 15 years, and it seems like there is nothing left for sale that is not really overpriced. (You guys that disagree with me, tell me what you've got, and if it's even close, I'll buy it!)

Re: 8BA Distributor- Full Race Flathead help
 

Guys,
Every sbc, Mallory, MSD etc to 8ba dist I build has a full size clamp pad which functions exactly s like the Loadamatic pad clamp pad.
Charlie ny

Re: 8BA Distributor- Full Race Flathead help
 

I found a couple old Accel Dual Points cheap and converted one. Looks almost stock and runs great. Set up the curve and vacuum advance as recommended by JWL.

Re: 8BA Distributor- Full Race Flathead help
 

Scotty
... Thanks for the good news and positive input, and not profiteering the Hobby.
Ric

Re: 8BA Distributor- Full Race Flathead help
 

If it's temporary and you're jazzed to hear it run and you're already physically holding a stock dizzy- could you block off one carb with a thin plate then connect the L.A.M. vacuum line to a stock 94 type carb? Would that give you a pretty good idea of the motors other characteristics or be too far off to get a good idea?

Re: 8BA Distributor- Full Race Flathead help
 

A few years back a friend of mine Richard kunc developed a "road rig", Whichk electronically recorded the engine (Any engine) performance under different ignition curves and carburetor AF numbers. ALL this information was published here on the barn several times. The information allows the average guy to properly tune his engine for maximum power and economy. With all this information available, I'm supprised that some of the vendors haven't researched this and made available to their customers. Bubba has offered the adjustable mechanical advance, designed by Richard. This program took several years and many bucks to provide this data which can improve the power and economy of any engine, here is the basic starting point and the resons why.
Initial 2*-4*
Mechanical advance 16* all in by 2000 RPM's
Vacuum advance 8*

AF 14.5-15.5 in cruise
12.5-13.5 WOT

Once you have these numbers into your engine you're in the ball park, differen engine mods or lack there of will determine the final numbers. This information is free from Me and Richard, Hope it helps.

Re: 8BA Distributor- Full Race Flathead help
 

PS
It doesn't matter what ignition or carburetor system supplies these values.

Re: 8BA Distributor- Full Race Flathead help
 

Mtt

Re: 8BA Distributor- Full Race Flathead help
 

Thanks to all you guys for your help. I didnt realize all the replys that had come in.
Ric

Re: 8BA Distributor- Full Race Flathead help
 

So is it now sorted or still in planning stages. Always good to here end results especially considering all helpful comments which have been made.
Phil NZ

Re: 8BA Distributor- Full Race Flathead help
 

Something I forgot yo mention, is the use of an AF meter when setting up the advance curve. The timing and carbonation work together. The max advance in cruise is for a lean mixture. Running rich in cruise washes the cylinder walls with excess fuel. causing cylinder and ring wear. This is common is modified fuel systems and shortens the life span of the engine. For some reason I find it hard to lean out multiple Stromburgs and have it run right. Still working on that.

Re: 8BA Distributor- Full Race Flathead help
 

The Mallory is what you wanted and Charlie has a couple of them......there ya go !!!

Re: 8BA Distributor- Full Race Flathead help
 

I feel you are over thinking the the "seeing a Chevy distributor " thing . Just make sure it has a black cap and no one will ever know ,fit the old style cloth wires and it will blend right in. The mallory that Charlie has with the two piece cap is perfect old time distributor. the were available for a flathead anyway.

Re: 8BA Distributor- Full Race Flathead help
 

“ Modifying parts for performance, speed, reliability” isn’t that what Hot Rodding is all about?

Besides the Chevy dist doesn’t look that bad in a flathead, and I love the window for setting the dwell while the engine is running!

Re: 8BA Distributor- Full Race Flathead help
 

My 8ba close in config. to yours. I run a Mallory electronic and it's run flawlessly for 3 to 4 yrs.

Re: 8BA Distributor- Full Race Flathead help
 

Also am using a Chrysler 318 dissy. Looks almost identical to the stock Ford dissy.

Re: 8BA Distributor- Full Race Flathead help
 

Just stick the stock loadamatic in the engine and turn to advance the timing after the engine starts should do the trick...

Re: 8BA Distributor- Full Race Flathead help
 

I was thinking about that, if your determined to run the load a matic, it will probably work like a full race distributor with fixed advanced. Except in this case maybe idle and full advance with not much of a curve in between.

Re: 8BA Distributor- Full Race Flathead help
 

I just want to pass this bit of info along ,Regarding the Mallory flat cap alternatives ,I found some conventional style distributor caps while moving my late father's parts inventory , The caps are hand written on the box, "Mallory flat cap replacement, made in republic of Germany", according to what I can find out they were used on some recon. engines he supplied to a local government contract or maybe to the mining industry in the late 50's or 60,s, these caps replace the Mallory flat caps that had the two pieces and clamp on gasket to seal from moisture, there most likely still a few around that no one may not know what they are looking at. I didn't find any numbers or name on them, they have the brass terminals, no doubt good quality.

Re: 8BA Distributor- Full Race Flathead help
 

He sold them to somebody else almost immediately after his post. I got sucker punched.
Thanks for your input, I'll be getting a hold of you. Ric

Re: 8BA Distributor- Full Race Flathead help
 

Wrong place

Re: 8BA Distributor- Full Race Flathead help
 

Thanks for the info, good to know. Ric

Re: 8BA Distributor- Full Race Flathead help
 

If you like the looks of a crab cap on an 8BA, Mallory made some for marine use in a SBC. These can be converted, just like a regular SBC distributor. I have only seen single point versions, but they are plenty good enough for all but the most highly built flathead. I got my last one off eBay for $15.

Re: 8BA Distributor- Full Race Flathead help
 

Phil,

I'm gaining on it, since I started this thread I have bought a few cheap Distributors at Local Flea Markets and online. I'm working my way up the food-chain 1st was a $5 8BA with a Dual Point Conversion inc Cap & Wires, next an unfinished incomplete Mallory SBC, Finally an old Flathead V8 Mallory Duel Point, but incomplete has nothing on the Plate i.e. Points etc.
I’m Happy, at least going in the right direction now for a 1940s through back Deuce.
thanks Ric