The Ford Barn - View Single Post - Recently Acquired 50 Ford With A Merc Engine

scooder · 11-29-2014, 07:07 AM

The Merc intake I was relating to is the stock OEM one, it has a four bolt carb flange and bigger bore riser part (the bit twix the carb and the front and rear facing inlet tracts) not a "high rise"
The distributor, I was relating to the stock Loadamatic one, this is the stupid one.
I hadn't actually looked at your pic, just agreeing with Ron.
Should read all posts, my mistake.
yours appears to be a Mallory with centrifugal advance. These more often than not have the wrong advance curve from the factory, it uses a sbc Chevy curve. It'll run and to someone that hasnt driven a Flathead with the right ignition curve, will appear to work "ok". I can tell you for certain, if it has the wrong advance curve now, recalibrating the distributor with the right curve will make you smile, a lot. The difference can be huge. With higher compression like yours, a sbc curve can give getting on for twice the advance you need or want, hurts power a lot.
Centrifugal advance + vacuum advance will give you all you need. The vacuum advance will increase your mpg. Still gota be curved right though.
Nice car, yours appears to have an 8BA-8RT intake, not the Merc one.
Martin.

11-29-2014, 07:07 AM	#17
scooder Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 2,593	Re: Recently Acquired 50 Ford With A Merc Engine The Merc intake I was relating to is the stock OEM one, it has a four bolt carb flange and bigger bore riser part (the bit twix the carb and the front and rear facing inlet tracts) not a "high rise" The distributor, I was relating to the stock Loadamatic one, this is the stupid one. I hadn't actually looked at your pic, just agreeing with Ron. Should read all posts, my mistake. yours appears to be a Mallory with centrifugal advance. These more often than not have the wrong advance curve from the factory, it uses a sbc Chevy curve. It'll run and to someone that hasnt driven a Flathead with the right ignition curve, will appear to work "ok". I can tell you for certain, if it has the wrong advance curve now, recalibrating the distributor with the right curve will make you smile, a lot. The difference can be huge. With higher compression like yours, a sbc curve can give getting on for twice the advance you need or want, hurts power a lot. Centrifugal advance + vacuum advance will give you all you need. The vacuum advance will increase your mpg. Still gota be curved right though. Nice car, yours appears to have an 8BA-8RT intake, not the Merc one. Martin.