i have an early flathead (1941) and looking for a fully electronic distributor. currently have a "football" dist. when i'm speaking of a 'fully electronic distributor', i'm not talking about just replacing the points with an electronic/magnetic/photoptic sensor. i'm talking about one that replaces the points AND the vacuum advance weights with programmable timing advance with a solid state circuit board that may actually reside on a inside the distributor body. like those offered by the "123ignition" company. 123ignition.com
Ah new meat for the haters of anything electronic. I'm thinking that no one is offering a helmet style distributor that is designed to be electronic simply because there isn't a real market for one. Only one or two guys even convert them with a kit.
The Pertronix 91285LS "Ignitor II" sounds like what you're after. It works with the later "crab" style distributor which is an improvement over your "helmet" style distributor. https://pertronixbrands.com/product...well-control-ford-1942-48-flathead-8-cylinder
Wasn't there a thread on a 32 build , the op used helmet distributor location from Sweden or Germany that re-engineered to make it look stock but with upgrades
it looks like it replaces the points with an electronic timing sensor but spark advance is not addressed. OTOH, it look to be somewhat of an improvement over what i've got anyway. thanks to everyone for their input...much appreciated.
It may not be cost effective, and certainly off topic for this forum, but using a GM v8 distributor from the mid 80’s to the mid 90’s and then the modifications to a factory ECM/PCM to control it, or an aftermarket unit to control it. The reason I mention the GM distributor, is many older style Chevy distributors were modified for 8BA’s, so the information is out there. Edit: up to ‘85/86? You could still get a carbureted Fbody and Corvette. I’d start there
@Budget36 the 84 vette was crossfire, 85 was TPI. Not a carb there, just in the F body. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Camaro_(third_generation) The later GM ignition on the front of the engine (optispark) was panned for issues. Not a dist. but wanted to mention it. The more modern stuff went through some birthing issues and not all of it was an improvement. Kind of like '50s automatics.
T Time marches on , the equipment , support , expertise. Knowledge etc concerning flathead is getting fewer & farther between to find , change is the only constant in life .
@tubman Sorry I went out of bounds. I'd like it if thirties and forties Fords were available and cheap for all, and parts and knowledge were found locally, wherever that is. As @2OLD2FAST points out, what this place is about is not the same as where we are living. You have to dig to find on topic things in the modern world.
If we look outside just distributors it's quite possible to use a "modern" electronic fuel injection kit with the ability to control ignition to just control the ignition. You can use just about any type of sensor to trigger the system, even the points if you want to, and you can choose between keeping the distributor or ditching it and running four ignition coils in waste spark configuration, or eight coils as coil on plug. Traditional? No. But you can build it to look like a traditional system if you want to, and you can go another route if that's what you prefer. You get a fully programmable ignition map either way - and the option to go fuel injection too, perhaps mostly hidden inside some old carbs.
Nothing wrong with progress, and using electronic/computer controlled systems....... BUT..... I just don't get the need to hide it to try and conform with HAMB ideals. To me, that sort of defeats the purpose. The "time marches on" thing doesn't have to mean that everything has to change. Nostalgia is a good thing.
Well, maybe a Mod will move the thread to the OT forum, I’d share more info and where to get what’s needed and where to contact someone who can do some non HAMB stuff.
@hueyhoolihan , check your private messages any the top of the page, you’ll see a little mail thing lit up ⬆️ n red.
I agree. I just finish the "that's not traditional discussion" before it starts, as every time someone brings up electronic ignition or some other piece of 50 year old tech that isn't seen as traditional here a few guys always has to argue about the wonderful properties of points, or whatever the traditional alternative happens to be. Might as well handle the arguments before they start writing, because otherwise it's always coming. Coming to think of it, that repeating argument is kind of becoming a tradition.
As I was corrected, look for/into (to start carburetor 3rd gen Fbodies. Www.thirdgen.org to start. The ecm can have the prom redone for what’s needed. There is a specific (or was) prom burning forum, as well as aftermarket stuff. If you start with a carburetor ECM and tune, it would be easier to tweak out what you don’t need, as opposed to a EFI setup. Now, you’ll have to hide/get creative on some things. But if approached a 1971 SBC with spark advance via ECM, it would go easier. Probably not many there that know what a FH V8 is
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