The Ford Barn

Grumpy Rick · 04-07-2017, 02:08 AM

I took the rebuilt newer dist to NAPA today, and got the correct cap and rotor for it. Got the distributor from Ebay a while back.

Napa says the same cap fits 57 and up Y blocks. I will keep the original dist with the other original parts for the car.

I plan to keep the points, condenser, and coil in the trunk....just in case.

Now I need to find a 6000 RPM, 270 degree sweep, electronic tach that looks a lot like the original.

dmsfrr · 04-07-2017, 11:37 AM

IIRC the cap, rotor, points, etc are the same for the V8's from '57 thru the early 70's.

"I plan to keep the points, condenser, and coil in the trunk....just in case"
That's a good plan. Some folks have found the newer Pertronix points conversion kits to not be as reliable as they expected.

"6000 RPM" ???
I suppose that's the least most tach's have anymore.
Good luck in your search.

.

Grumpy Rick · 04-12-2017, 03:44 AM

Well, we got it running with the original distributor last Tuesday. Now that we know it runs, we installed the rebuilt E-bay distributor out of a 60's 292 engine. That eliminated the tach drive, and someday, I will find a new electric tach for it that looks good.

Anyway, the new dist matches up much nicer with the Edelbrock carb, and now we have the advance working properly, and the car runs much better.

Next Tuesday I plan to install a Pertronix Ignitor with a matching coil, now that the car runs. Keeping the points and all in the trunk.

Then off to install the new PS hoses and fittings.

PS: I forgot how much I dislike the Fordomatic, with it's second gear starts.

Grumpy Rick · 03-04-2018, 03:16 PM

Trying to finalize all the threads I started:

Actually, unlike I said above NO SUCCESS.

After doing all the above, including a new distributor, two new coils, checking ballast resistor and finally installing the pertronix, it still had the problem.

The whole problem was, I hope, resolved when we ran a new hot wire to the coil. Somewhere up the line was a bad connection or broken wire.

Anyway, we have so far driven it several times with no problems.

Thanks again for the help.

04-07-2017, 02:08 AM	#21
Grumpy Rick Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: SoCal Posts: 208	Re: 55 T-Bird stalls I took the rebuilt newer dist to NAPA today, and got the correct cap and rotor for it. Got the distributor from Ebay a while back. Napa says the same cap fits 57 and up Y blocks. I will keep the original dist with the other original parts for the car. I plan to keep the points, condenser, and coil in the trunk....just in case. Now I need to find a 6000 RPM, 270 degree sweep, electronic tach that looks a lot like the original.

04-07-2017, 11:37 AM	#22
dmsfrr Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Abq, NM Posts: 3,789	Re: 55 T-Bird stalls IIRC the cap, rotor, points, etc are the same for the V8's from '57 thru the early 70's. "I plan to keep the points, condenser, and coil in the trunk....just in case" That's a good plan. Some folks have found the newer Pertronix points conversion kits to not be as reliable as they expected. "6000 RPM" ??? I suppose that's the least most tach's have anymore. Good luck in your search. . Last edited by dmsfrr; 04-07-2017 at 11:57 AM.

04-12-2017, 03:44 AM	#23
Grumpy Rick Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: SoCal Posts: 208	Re: 55 T-Bird stalls Well, we got it running with the original distributor last Tuesday. Now that we know it runs, we installed the rebuilt E-bay distributor out of a 60's 292 engine. That eliminated the tach drive, and someday, I will find a new electric tach for it that looks good. Anyway, the new dist matches up much nicer with the Edelbrock carb, and now we have the advance working properly, and the car runs much better. Next Tuesday I plan to install a Pertronix Ignitor with a matching coil, now that the car runs. Keeping the points and all in the trunk. Then off to install the new PS hoses and fittings. PS: I forgot how much I dislike the Fordomatic, with it's second gear starts.

03-04-2018, 03:16 PM	#24
Grumpy Rick Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: SoCal Posts: 208	Re: 55 T-Bird stalls Trying to finalize all the threads I started: Actually, unlike I said above NO SUCCESS. After doing all the above, including a new distributor, two new coils, checking ballast resistor and finally installing the pertronix, it still had the problem. The whole problem was, I hope, resolved when we ran a new hot wire to the coil. Somewhere up the line was a bad connection or broken wire. Anyway, we have so far driven it several times with no problems. Thanks again for the help.