"50 Merc distributor choices?? Stock, MSD, or Modified Chevy

[Jack 34pu]

For my AV8 pu with '50 Merc, which distributor would be best choice? Stock, stock with Pertronics kit, MSD, or a old Chevy modified which would allow mechanical spring changes and vac adv.? Tell me your horror stories and what worked best. I'm sure others would be interested.

[Ol' Ron]

I recommend the SBC unit, This can also be converted to electronc. I recommend 20* all in by 2000 including the initernal. Then 6-8* vac. Now the vac will be all in at all times, except at WOT. This is a starting point and is close for a 276, 8.5CR and L-100.
My Friend Richard is doing some experimenting with this vac adv. You should also Monotor the A/f under WOT and cruise conditions. Charley NY can do this.

[Jack 34pu]

I hear good things about the L100 cam but my stock Merc cam measures good - less than .0004 diff in lobes. This will be a daily driver and not a high RPM motor. What do you think? Would I be foolish not to change it out during the rebuild?

[Ol' Ron]

No Keep the stock cam or find an EAB cam (stock52-3). Get your pistons close to the heads< Find some EAB heads as well. This will increase CR as well. This will improve mileage too.
Good luck
Ol' Ron

[Jack 34pu]

Got the EAB heads - abt 63cc's compared to 84 for the 8CM's Will do a check for interferance when engine is put together. The shop I took the block to is really busy with modern stuff so not sure when they will machine it. I'm a little nervous since they do so few flatheads.

[BUBBAS IGNITION]

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Originally Posted by Jack 34pu

For my AV8 pu with '50 Merc, which distributor would be best choice? Stock, stock with Pertronics kit, MSD, or a old Chevy modified which would allow mechanical spring changes and vac adv.? Tell me your horror stories and what worked best. I'm sure others would be interested.

Jack,

We just shipped number 256 of the chevrolet conversions.
More info at http://www.lindertech.com/bhrs/flathead_chev.htm
Curved to be all in at 2500 rpm at 24 degrees ( has proven to be perfect) and can have adjustable vacuum advance if needed.
Makes a flathead feel good for sure.......all units now have the merc ford extended shaft to fit both timing covers and factory clamp down.

[Ol' Ron]

24* may work well for some engines, especially those with a lower compression. However If you purchase a distributor from Bubbas, check it out very well. His quality control is lacking.

[Karl Wolf]

Take a look at a Chrysler V8 dist, smaller, has vac advance, electronic... And simple. Have not done it, got it in the back of my head to try... Karl

[Walt Dupont--Me.]

Originally Posted by Karl Wolf

Take a look at a Chrysler V8 dist, smaller, has vac advance, electronic... And simple. Have not done it, got it in the back of my head to try... Karl

The Chrysler dist. is good but hard to get at the weigts and adjust the advance curve to. Walt

[Ol' Ron]

The MSD has the same advance mechanism as the SBC. Severalpeople make advance parts for them including adj vac canisters.
Most engines run a lean mixture during cruise and require more advance. Under WOT the adv must be retarded to prevent detonation. especially in an engine with Hi compression.

[OLD...BILL]

Hey; this is like old times, reading "OL' RON " on the new barn, one thing to add
when you need parts, on the side of the road, local parts store will have them for the Chevy dist. Just say 'MSD to the parts store guy and see his eyes glaze
over, .....OLD....BILL
P.S. Ron; where can I get your book, with the recipe for "FLATHEAD CHILL" in the back ? thanks

[Ol' Ron]

Bill Boomer hs a bunch of em. Making a pot today. and it 89.2 and I was cutting the grass with a push morer.

[burly]

Ol Ron, It's sure good to see you're here.

[BUBBAS IGNITION]

Originally Posted by Ol' Ron

24* may work well for some engines, especially those with a lower compression. However If you purchase a distributor from Bubbas, check it out very well. His quality control is lacking.

Ouch !!!

[tom/illinois]

Charlie/NY fixed my GM dizzy for my 8ba. It's a points dist. but works verywell. Seemed abit tough to get dialed in but I had a few other issues going on at the same time. It's in a'47 tudor (Ford). I'd still be scratching my head if not for Charlie. LOL!

[petes 50 merc]

i have a newer mallory dist. in my 50 merc been in there for 15 years runs great.

[Ol' Ron]

This is the kind of reply we get when the owner is satisfied with the performance of his vehicle. My son bought a used 4 wheeler for his forestry business. We been using it for about 5 years and it seemed to run OK. A week ago it wouldn't start so it went into the shop. The thiing runs like is got a blown Hemi in it. Not sure what they did, but obviously it hasn't run right for a long time.

[Straightpipes]

OUCH!!! My BUBBA's work great! Specially that junk Speedway Mallory dual point that I sent him.

[55 dude]

Originally Posted by Ol' Ron

24* may work well for some engines, especially those with a lower compression. However If you purchase a distributor from Bubbas, check it out very well. His quality control is lacking.

what is this info based upon? this is the first i have heard of this and when something goes wrong with sellers on the internet everyone hears. hope this is wrong.

[BUBBAS IGNITION]

Originally Posted by 55 dude

what is this info based upon? this is the first i have heard of this and when something goes wrong with sellers on the internet everyone hears. hope this is wrong.

Yes , i agree beats me what happened here as well.

I really didn’t know what to think when I first read the post on the quality of our ignition products etc. However I felt compelled to just leave it alone and go on. I have always said email needs brakes so the writer can reread what he or she actually said before sending. I am sure we all have sent something in haste and the next day wished we hadn’t said what we said..

However,
Later in the week I felt otherwise and feel like I should respond to the post.

Our reputation and internet presence is everything to us ! And to see someone question our quality is shocking to say the least. We spend a great deal of time on product quality and would like to think we improve each and every day.
Have we ever had a problem,? Sure we have !! However our company policy is “ fix the customer and fix him now”. After shipping 256 of our flathead conversions I can honestly say we have had only a handful of field problems and to my knowledge they have all been fixed to the customers satisifaction .
We not only do ignition but also recondition electronic fuel injectors and ship hundreds of products each and every week.

I did build Ole Ron a distributor , thru a friend of his ( to the friends specifications) as a gift for his contributions to all of us .

This was done as a gift thru the friend and myself at no-charge what so ever!

I asked ole Ron with a PM for, at the very least a explanation of what he meant by poor quality and have waited a few days for a private reply. As a frequent contributor and tech service for any and all that ask i think i deserved a private reply before the first post. ! I would love the chance to rework the distributor to Ole Rons total satisfaction......send her back with a list and i will write a tech article on each and every function that makes you doubt our quality.

After 19 years of providing automotive service, never have I had anyone question our quality! So in the above post using the word “Ouch” is very fitting.

OK, with this said and done at the very least now I feel better !

If I can ever help anyone just drop me a email. Or use our toll free 888-809-3835 and ask for Bubba.

Signed : Wounded in Speedway.......