I am looking for some opinions on what distributor to run. I recently bought the car, it is an all stock 1950 Ford shoebox. I installed headers, dual exhaust ,converted to 12v, and I'm going to install two new Strombergs. I was thinking either the MSD ready to run pn. 8573 or the Mallory unilite electronic no points. Any help would be great thanks, Scott
Ive been running a Mallory dual point, full mechanical advance, no vacuum, distributor in my Merc. for over 5 years and never had to mess with it. Id say either one MSD or Mallory would be a good choice. Havent heard bad things about either. Id stick with the mechanical advance though. Makes a huge difference.
I will be honest with ya I am still running what points came in my 49 when I bought it> They are just stock poinst and stock distributer that I never even cleaned up and the car starts and runs like a champ. Oh and I am running headers with duel pipes on it along with to stromberg 97's. My buddy is running the $74 electronic ignition outta speedway in his 49 and it is crazy how fast that car starts it dont even crank just turns the key and its running thats the best bang for your buck. But the best way to go is the ready to run msd but it cost a fortune.
I like the mechanical advance. It revs way higher and faster. I imagine your car has vacuum wipers. When you step on the throttle they probably slow WAY down if not stop. Your vacuum advance is doing the exact same thing. With the full mechanical advance you eliminate that problem, and the engine is happier on the highway and will run a little cooler when youre making it work.
Consider this as the guy really knows his distributors. http://www.lindertech.com/bhrs/flathead_chev.htm
We'll heck for another $50 bucks you can put the whole chevy motor in it!. I'll keep my flathead and mallory with points...they don't give that much trouble...and I'm not racing anyone...save money and buy your girl a coke!
The only dizzy to run is MSD ready to run just put one in a 50 merc conv this summer and went to the James Dean Run The duck tail run then to St Louis a total of 3000 miles and it ran sooth and gave me great gas mileage Mallory is junk dual point and unilite. we have a flat head club and the consinsus of opion is msd. Raybhotrod
I gotta disagree with that. Mines never given me a bit of trouble. Heck Ive never messed with the points since I set them the first time.
Search the threads started by GMC Bubba on here where he shows how he converts Chevy dizzies to flathead. I had him do one for me, centrifugal advance with a Pertronix and I love it. You cannot beat his price for these things either.
Go to google....Bubba's Hot Rod Shop......he's great with flatheads.....also www.shoeboxford.com besides the guys on the HAMB they are also a great source of help.
unilite with a msd 6a box never have to worry about ignition again 20 years with out a problem every 5 or 6 years replace the cap and rotor just because of fading really peps the motor up split fire plugs work great all so anything but champion Stromberg's do not have a vacuum port so you need a mechanical advance msd`s are ugly! mallory unilites look stock and work great run a filter/surge protector if your running a generator and all you people with points need a hobby
Smart move...you're going to do just fine with that shoebox.....mine looked just like yours when I bought it in July (the avatar is wrong)...now order a "green Bible" from Shoebox Ford.
I ran a pertronix set up. No problems at all. So easy to hook up I did it!! Plenty of miles on it, ran strong from down low to 6k (!) on the freeway in 5th gear.
When I dig my '48 pickup out of the back corner and try to get it running I was going to give GMC Bubba a call and get one of his chevy modified units. Good to hear so much positive feedback about his conversion. Frank
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