Projects new again, need 1950 merc flathead ignition advice

Have 50 merc flathead, want to put mechanical advance dist in, read a post here some time ago about modified sbc or mopar distributors. can anyone direct me to info on purchase or have one modified?
thanks

 

I'm running a mechanical advance SBC distributor in the 8ba in my '39 p/u. Bubba here on the HAMB did the conversion but he is no longer doing them due to health issues. Bur CharlieNY on the Ford Barn does them and maybe Michael at Third Gen but not 100% positive about Third Gen. Very happy with the Chevy conversion.

 

Go to the Ford Barn forum . Choose flatheads and one member makes them

 

I have a bubbas ignition in my 8ba , runs great but im not sure they arestill doing them .?

Recently did some work on my buddies chevy truck rewiring and other work. Doing the ignition was a wee bit of a light bulb moment for me .

He runs an electronic Pertronix unit in the chevy dizzy. He has also did away with the mechanical advance and used another electronic unit called an Amethyst . It reads the vauum signal and advances or retard the ignition timing . Its also programmable for max advance and tunable advance curve .

The light bulb moment was realising that I can use the Amethyst set up in the old flathead distributor .
It wouldn't be necessary to convert the original point to electronic as the points just become a switch , the condenser is binned as the "spark" is controlled through the Amethyst unit .. It wouldn't hurt to shift the points for a pertronix unit but that's added cost.

I haven't gotten around to looking any further into this set up yet, but I've seen it in action and think that its a good call for the 8ba dizzy that relies on a matched carb vacuum .. you can discard the Ford 94s and fit 97s , lock off the bob weights , divert the vacuum to the amethyst , and use the original contacts ( minus the condenser) as a simple switch

here is a link to the Amethyst unit

http://www.aldonamethyst.co.uk/

 

Here is the info on CharlieNY from a post on the Ford Barn.

 

And he drives a Chevy truck...

 

And he has good taste in beer.

 

Thanks for the replies,

 

thanks Im trying to figure it out on the fordbarn, should I just post the question in flatheads?

 

Early V8 section

 

I am partial to "flattop" Mallory's, as they have "the look". I have run just about every kind of distributor in flatheads over the years (including converted GM units, both with and with out vacuum advance), and really haven't seen much difference, so I go with the Mallory's for looks alone. In this vein, it's just as easy to convert an aftermarket distributor (Mallory, Accel, or even MSD) as it is a GM unit, so this expands your choice even more. (SBC Mallory's are a LOT cheaper than one originally intended for a flathead.)

I don't particularly like any kind of aftermarket electronic ignitions, as they have the nasty habit of failing totally and unexpectedly, leaving you stranded. A conventional points unit almost always will start to degrade, giving you plenty of notice and the opportunity to limp home. 6 volt Pertronix units are particularly bad this way, and paired with a generator with their "dirty" power, are a ride home on a flatbed waiting to happen.

And despite what many say, a stock Loadamatic in good condition works exceptionally well on a stock engine.

 

Check out the Mallory dual point distributors with mechanical advance here?
https://www.google.com/search?q=mal...7j33i299l2.11864j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
This is worth reading.
https://fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=68218&showall=1

 

Mallory dual point is what I have in my merc works great

 

Thanks for the help and the title change. us old guys are not as good at this computer stuff as some of the young ens. got more help too!!!

 

Hey thanks for the ideas, checked it out and I like the look of this dist, looks like it belongs on my Merc

 

Appreciate all the help and ideas, nother reason I got back on the hamb

 

I converted my Mallory dual point to electronic with Pertronix kit and it
works even better.

 

Got a Mallory dual point looks great. pulled the original and dropped the Mallory in, was about 3 degrees off on initial timing. put the light on it, runs like it new.
Good advice thanks