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Hot Rods olds 324 tach drive conversion

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by secnwind, Sep 1, 2024.

  1. secnwind
    Joined: Nov 1, 2006
    Posts: 109

    secnwind
    Member

    I saw the instructions here to convert an International tach drive distributor to oldsmobile... and now, I can't find it.... Thanks
     
  2. TCTND
    Joined: Dec 27, 2019
    Posts: 655

    TCTND
    Member

    Can't help you with a conversion but I have an Olds 394/371 tach drive dist and Motrola tach for sale with all the ancillary drive bits. If that interests you shoot me a PM.
    regards,
    Phil
     
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  3. oldsmobum
    Joined: Apr 26, 2012
    Posts: 210

    oldsmobum
    Member
    from SoCal

    Swap the drive gear and good to go? I read something along those lines here but I’m not sure if that is true considering deck height changes through the years. Hopefully someone with more experience sees this and can help OP out.
     
  4. TCTND
    Joined: Dec 27, 2019
    Posts: 655

    TCTND
    Member

    Right, I'm not sure about compatibility with other years but I know it fits 394 & 371.
     
  5. secnwind
    Joined: Nov 1, 2006
    Posts: 109

    secnwind
    Member

  6. secnwind
    Joined: Nov 1, 2006
    Posts: 109

    secnwind
    Member

    Again
     
  7. Fordors
    Joined: Sep 22, 2016
    Posts: 5,942

    Fordors
    Member

    I sold a Mallory 389 YC, that number was catalogued for 371-394 Olds, but it had the early D drive for the oil pump. That was the way it was given to me by a friend, so I can only assume someone had changed the gear for the earlier engines. Early Oldsmobiles mount the distributor on the block, not the intake so I believe the 303-394 distributors are interchangeable.
    I’m surprised the OP hasn’t gotten a definitive answer, there must be some Olds builders here.
     
  8. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 34,324

    Moriarity
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    @Paul knows all about Oldsmobile stuff
     
  9. Paul
    Joined: Aug 29, 2002
    Posts: 16,716

    Paul
    Editor

    I've heard rumors of this, using the 345? distributor..
    not sure what is involved, machining housing, gear swap or what to do about rotation. seems to me the International rotation is clockwise where the Olds is counter clockwise.
     
  10. secnwind
    Joined: Nov 1, 2006
    Posts: 109

    secnwind
    Member

    Again about 324... Thanks
     
  11. Paul
    Joined: Aug 29, 2002
    Posts: 16,716

    Paul
    Editor

    the '74-'75 IH 266, 304, 345 tach drive distributor

    s-l400.jpg
     
  12. Paul
    Joined: Aug 29, 2002
    Posts: 16,716

    Paul
    Editor

    the 303-324 Oldsmobile distributor

    PXL_20241003_184905300.jpg
     
  13. oldsmobum
    Joined: Apr 26, 2012
    Posts: 210

    oldsmobum
    Member
    from SoCal

    Right off the bat it looks like the distributor shaft would need to be shortened. It also looks as if the IH distributor will be significantly taller than the OEM distributor- I would consider available firewall clearance.

    If I was hell bent on doing this, I would buy one (assuming that they aren’t extremely valuable to IH guys) and turn a pair of calipers loose on it to see what else it might need, assuming it’s even feasible in the first place.

    OP, why is the Mallory unit offered not a good enough solution?
     
  14. Paul
    Joined: Aug 29, 2002
    Posts: 16,716

    Paul
    Editor

    you can also see the gear is cut to turn the shaft the opposite direction.
     
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  15. oldsmobum
    Joined: Apr 26, 2012
    Posts: 210

    oldsmobum
    Member
    from SoCal

    Good catch. Does anyone actually reproduce the D shaft distributor drive gears for early olds?

    Is it an optical illusion, or is the housing on the IH distributor canted forward?
     

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