This is the distributor that came off the 354 I'm putting into my '34 Plymouth. I'm thinking about running it but I'm not really sure what it even is. I'm no ignition expert and I'm new to hemis but I'm guessing it is just a single point stock ignition that would run with a coil. What I'm confused about is what the oil fitting at the base of the distributor is for. Do these need lubrication? I've never seen this on other distributors. Also, if I want to run this and I don't have anything else with the ignition what else would you all recommend I get (coil, etc.) to make this work. I want this to be a reliable streetable car, not a race car. I'll probably drop in an HEI unit later, I just want to get it running now. <table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From 34 plymouth</td></tr></tbody></table>
I'm no Hemi Expert, but that doesn't look like any Early Hemi Distributor I've ever seen before. While there are similarities, the base mounting scheme is way different than I'd expect. That oil fitting looks like maybe it has someother function than simple oilign to the dizzy - the capped fitting on the side is for that. I also don't see any vacuum advance -does that oil fitting have something to do with that??? Is this possibly some commerical application? Sorry I have more questions than answers. The biggest snag for me is the base mounting - are there additional pieces missing?? The Chrysler dizzy's of that era and later all had similar large base mounts and appeared very similar to one another minus the shaft lengths based on the various deck heights. It's interesting -thats for sure - I'm not too sure it's something you're gonna actually want to run though. Hopefully someone who's familar with this specific dizzy will chime in and enlighten us - I'm sure curious.
The base mounts right to the block and engages the intermediate shaft in the block no problem. I thought the tube above the oil fitting was a vacuum advance. There is another tube just below the cap clip that has a spring loaded cap on it. <table style="width:auto;"><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From 34 plymouth</td></tr></table>
Typical truck, and as suggested, it is used with a governor. The shaft is quite different than p*** car stuff as well as the intermediate shaft ***embly. The truck engines have numerous differences from the p*** car and industrial engines, you will find others as you go along. This dist certainly can be used as is to get the engine fired but a p*** car unit may be more user friendly. I suggest that you locate a 331-354 dist and intermediate shaft or change over to the Mopar electronic now since you'll want it later anyway. If you need a wiring diagram just ask. Abomination may have a use for the intermediate shaft ***embly. .
Thanks for the help. I don't think I want to use the stock distributor now. I will likely go with a Mopar like this one from Summit (SUM-850081): or a GM HEI (PRO-66941BKU) using a Hot Heads conversion. The best buy would seem to be the GM route.
If you wish to stay with the traditional old cast iron look , we can redo your distributor with late electronics and recurve the unit to what ever specs you wish. Still have the look of the orginal unit with more reliable parts as well as hotter spark. I have a couple hemis to do here at the shop and will do a tech when i get them worked up.
You can get an electronic small block mopar (1974 on)from junk yard, get recurved (FBO Oregon) the elec late model dist is 1 of the best. you have to extend the shaft 3/8 for 354. (Hot Heads) FBO will blueprint and recurve the dist better than new HiPo Mopar dist. Ago
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