Technical IF you can fit a chevy distributor to an 8ba

does that mean you can run a hei dizzy?
or is that beyond the pale

 

Yep. In the 90’s Ed Newitt’s roadster had a Chevrolet HEI distributor fitted to his blown flathead. I drove it at El Mirage and Bonneville.

 

there were also Chrysler distributors that can be used, don't have the information but is a smaller distributor.

 

Bubba on the Ford Barn used to adapt them for flatheads I believe.

 

Cringe , but for some reason guys do mount these uglies. The link in my mind is a much kinder option to the eyes. HEI, man thats a big ugly turd to mount on a flathead. We have a YC SBC with a Black Cap on one 8BA and an early tach drive Mallory with a two piece cap on another, they look like they belong. Bubba did our early Mallory with a Tubman trash can condenser.

https://www.google.co.nz/url?sa=i&url=https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/diy-chevy-to-flathead-distributor-conversion-threads.1144583/&psig=AOvVaw1kjJEO_CcQRxvmM6DGsWHE&ust=1679510516392000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA4QjhxqFwoTCPj7objW7f0CFQAAAAAdAAAAABAs WHY WOULD You USE THESE ???ATTACH=full]5682465[/ATTACH] HEI , man thats a big ugly turd to mount on a flathead. We have an early two piece Mallory on one 8BA and a turned down SBC with a Black Cap on another. The distributor wants to look discrete and that it belongs there.

 

Boom!! SBC distributor to Flathead tech

I had thought about it for a hot second, I'm gonna wait until I find an el cheapo 8BA Mallory unit at a local swapmeet, sitting there all lonely, it's owner clueless to its application...

 

If you don't get lucky, get an SBC Mallory flattop (they're usually a lot cheaper) and have Charlie Scwendler convert it to flathead use.

I have to agree with HEI units being "****-ugly".

 

Yep. Found a tach drive SBC unit @ Hershey that I plan to do the conversion to.

 

GM factory HEI looks best buried up in the firewall where you can't see it! An exception to that is the 3rd gen Camaro small cap version, they don't look quite as bad but still not as good as an old school points cap does.

 

Ooohh! Hadn't thought about that! I was just researching flathead tach drive options. I already have two, a Mallory flat cap one and a factory C2 Corvette one. I'll add this option to that list...

 

Any pics…I’m not familiar with them.

 

Speedway had a sale on their version of the MSD , was supposed to use a MSD box BUT can work as an HEI with the 4 prong hei module and an external coil . They were $34 each around Christmas of last year . I bought 3 , using one since first week of January with excellent results . These didn’t have vacuum advance but had completely adjustable mech advance .

 

I'm just going to say that what works to run for a record at Bonneville may not fit in with our idea of what is Hamb friendly appearance wise. Those modern distributors just look too modern for an engine that is going to show up at traditional events and present it's self as traditional I've got a Mallory Marine YL small block distributor that Bubba said was a good choice to modify for a flathead. If I can convert the innards to work as an HEI setup with the module tucked away out of sight in a hidden spot I'll do it otherwise it is send it off to the current guy who does the mods and run the dual point.
That said, I love the HEI distributors and run them on all of my OT GM engines that they fit on but I don't want them on any older rig that I am going to play show and tell at rod trots at and I don't consider my 71 GMC to be an "older rig" it is a daily driver work for it's keep rig.

 

Why Mallory went to the red and blue caps is beyond me. If it is a conventional cap. it can be painted with a paint meant especially for plastics with good results. Those with the "spark plug terminals" are completely inappropriate.

If I read the Speedway ad correctly, the $139.99 price must be for returned units, as the bottom of the ad has the notation : "Buy it brand new for $223.99".

A fine commentary on the quality of Speedway products. Everybody must have sent them back.

 

I’m grabbing the popcorn kids, what do we want to drink………

 

I’m commenting just so I can find the thread easier.
I’ve got DrPepper

 

OR, a vertex mag will work.

 

Unless you towed it in the equivalent of The Long Long Trailer.

 

I know that GMC Bubba has retired but does anybody still convert the Chevy points distributors to the Flathead 8ba that isn't 500 bucks?

 

I can recall what he did, years ago I had him do one for a buddies v8 Stude engine.
He machined a Dodge/Chrysler reluctor to press fit on the shaft and used the Dodge/Chrysler pickup. (Not sure of the actual name) I ***ume he also knew how to phase it properly.
He used the older style of GM Module and it was mounted remotely in a cool finned aluminum box that acted as a heat sink as well I guess.
I recall the wires being soldered onto the module, but damned if I can recall the other ends, I know I didn’t solder anything though. Think it was just 4 wires.
Did I confuse you enough yet

Edit: This wouldn’t take into account for other modifications for the distributor to fit it properly, just the points to electronic conversion.

 

Contact Charlie NY (Charlie Schwendler-716-662-9159) over on the Ford Barn. I don't know the currant pricing but when I bought mine many years ago it was very fair.

 

Man this is a thread about putting a Chevy sparkelator on a flattie. If anyone wants to argue over electronic ignition, there's like five gazillion threads doing that.....

 

Years ago Buba converted a SBC distributor for my 8ba. Love it except for the window cap. I did find a Pertronix cap without a window but for the price I didn't hate the window cap that much.

 

I remember those quite a few years back! Being a Mopar guy and not a Chevy guy I would like any info on doing a Chrysler distributor for my 8ba Ford. I did some searches but have found anything yet. Any help guys?

Dave

 

i have a '50 ford sedan/flathead that came with the big, old HEI conversion. works great, but it does kinda dwarf the rest of the engine!

 

Bill Sinclair's 1991 book "Thunder Road Flathead" details the modifications to '73 up 318" electronic distributors for 8BAs. The Chryslers require more work than the OE Chevys, including some welding, along with finding parts today. I'm a Ford guy, but the Chevy point distributor in my 8BA is hardly noticeable and works great! You can always have an aftermarket performance distributor, like an old Mallory designed for a Chevy, modified for your flathead where it will look "normal".

 

Thanks for the info! I have a chevy/flathead dist as well as a new Mallory dual point flathead dist and am running an old brown 2 piece cap Mallory in my '40 w/8ba. Latest effort is for the 8ba going into my '32 Fordor which will probably be 6 volt as well. I don't want an electronic one but mods would be pretty much the same.

Don't mean to hijack this thread.

Dave

P.S.
Just ordered the book on fleabay!