mechanical advance?

what is involved in changing a distributer from va*** advance to all mechanical advance? going to run a 3x2 setup on a 55 olds 324 and have been reading that its best to do when running holley 94s. any help is appreciated.

 

Your stock distributor has both vacuum and mechanical advance in it. Simplest way just don't hook up the vacuum hose. If fuel mileage and part throttle response is of any concern to you keep the vacuum advance and run it off the manifold rather than the carbs.

 

if i run the va*** off the manifold wouuldnt be advance to much at idle . isnt the va*** the highest at idle?

 

anybody?

 

i run a mallory dual point on the sbc in the nash and on the flathead in the merc. No pings, great response, and who cares bout the mileage. There for fun@

 

technically va***m is highest on deceleration. it advance s the timing when it loses the va***.

 

Here are a couple of facts for you to consider.
1) Distributors with vacuum advance are specifically designed to work with either manifold vacuum OR carb vacuum. They are very different levels of vac. and are one or the other. It shouldn't be too hard to figure out which you have.
2) All vacuum advance distributors also have mech. advance weights that work WITH the vacuum advance. They are there to allow for low vacuum driving conditions. A vacuum advance dist. with the vac. disconnected is NOT the same as a mechanical advance distributor. So if you decide to go with mech. advance, then buy a mechanical advance distributor (preferably with adjustable advance curve).
3) If your tri-power's secondary carbs are modified to work (properly) as secondary carbs (****erflies that seal @ idle) and good progressive linkage, you will not have any problems using a vacuum advance distributor (carb or manifold vac.)
If it's not, and it's just stock 94s bolted on, your motor will probably run like **** 'til you get to high rpm anyway.

 

My brothers 34 Ford 2dr sedan has a 57 Olds J2 motor with 3X2's and it has stock vacuum advance dist. and runs great.

 

You want full vacuum advance at idle. You wil notice that when you unhook and plug the vacuum and set the timing, when you hook it back up the motor will speed up and smooth out. Extra advance at cruising speed helps economy also.