8ba to Front Mount Distributor Question

[Vergil]

A friend is installing an 8ba in a '31 pickup and doesn't want to cut the firewall and will run stock hood. Water pumps are set up for one narrow v-belt drive, has the two bolt distributor front cover and '48 type cam and gear. What is the most compact distributor that might fit this application? The crankshaft pulley has the outer belt groove removed and is 6" diameter. All help is appreciated. He will be using a 12v alternator.

Vergil

[rotorwrench]

I'd say the 42 thru 48 crab type. Most others protrude farther forward and the crab is very adaptable.

Kerby

[Bruce Lancaster]

Definitely. Some dimensions here:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...tuff&showall=1

[Bruce Lancaster]

Dimensions here:

[Bruce Lancaster]

Hah! I made a link! Maybe I can remember how to do that again.

[Vergil]

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Originally Posted by Bruce Lancaster

Hah! I made a link! Maybe I can remember how to do that again.

Thanks Bruce I see you are like me in some things, celebrate when something works out

Vergil

[Vergil]

After reading your magic "link" Bruce it looks like he will need the 21a unless the 59a can be modified to accept the 21a crab cap. Now if Bubba can chime in and says he can install electronic internals all we would need is to find a donor distributor. Thanks for the information fellas, appreciated.

Vergil

[BillM]

I did a web article on my conversion to electronic internals for the crab distributor; here is a link:
http://mysite.ncnetwork.net/wgmumaw/...rsionBills.htm

Electronic internals is not really correct for what I did though,there's not much electronics in the distributor, basically a "trigger generator" for the remote mounted HEI module that contains the electronics. The conversion is a lot of work as the Mopar parts I used are a little large to fit in the distributor without some mods. One of these days I plan on doing a project using an HEI module triggered by points.

[Vergil]

Thanks Bill, great job you done on it, appreciate the link and very nice craftsmanship, drawing and pictures. Do you have a picture after installing the HEI module?

Vergil

[flatjack9]

The 59A can be converted to the crab cap by installing the hold down clips and using the 21A rotor which is different than the 59A.

[Vergil]

Originally Posted by flatjack9

The 59A can be converted to the crab cap by installing the hold down clips and using the 21A rotor which is different than the 59A.

Thanks Flatjack, so much to learn and not enough time left and shucks I have to learn it three or four times before I can remember it once.

Vergil

[38 coupe]

Is your friend using the 59A crank pulley at water pump pulleys or is he using the 8BA crank and water pump pulleys? The earlier pulleys are a lot closer to the block and take up a lot less space at the front of the motor.

[Vergil]

Originally Posted by 38 coupe

Is your friend using the 59A crank pulley at water pump pulleys or is he using the 8BA crank and water pump pulleys? The earlier pulleys are a lot closer to the block and take up a lot less space at the front of the motor.

Using the 8ba but both pumps are using the pulley that fits closest to engine and 8ba crank pulley (narrow belt) I am running this setup already but with a crank trigger for ignition so didn't have to worry about the distributor interference.

Vergil

[BillM]

Do you have a picture after installing the HEI module?

No, sorry. I had the module mounted under the dash at first and had one fail so I moved it to the front of the intake attached to a bracket that holds the coil also. A future project is to make a little finned aluminum box for it.

[30 pickup]

I have the same setup on my 30 pickup. A 8ba with a 2 bolt cover and 59ab heads. I bought a daul point Mallory from Speedway. I have pickup water pumps [ long ] with double pulleys and wide belts. I had to shorten the fan snout to clear the rad. I don't run a hood but this setup would clear.

Jim

[Vergil]

Originally Posted by 30 pickup

I have the same setup on my 30 pickup. A 8ba with a 2 bolt cover and 59ab heads. I bought a daul point Mallory from Speedway. I have pickup water pumps [ long ] with double pulleys and wide belts. I had to shorten the fan snout to clear the rad. I don't run a hood but this setup would clear.

Jim

Thanks Jim and all who responded, appreciated. He is in the process of buying a 21a distributor and if everything is okay then go to electronic pickup instead of points.

Vergil

[38 coupe]

The 59 series crank pulley sits closer to the engine than the 8BA. You will gain an appreciable amount by swapping to the earlier pulley.

[Vergil]

Originally Posted by 38 coupe

Is your friend using the 59A crank pulley at water pump pulleys or is he using the 8BA crank and water pump pulleys? The earlier pulleys are a lot closer to the block and take up a lot less space at the front of the motor.

Using 8ba narrow pulleys, one belt (using two drivers side pulleys on pumps) with front groove on crank pulley machined off. I am using the same setup but no distributor (crank trigger ignition) to worry about, added another pulley on the fan to drive alternator, picture below but not a very good one. Fits in and didn't have to cut the firewall and running hood.



Vergil