The tach drive is usually down on the base area.. I do know that those distributors need to be setup on a dist machine though..
What you have there is a mechanical advance only distributor as there is a plate blocking off the vacuum port. The port is in fact for a vacuum advance, there would be a different plate with a tube built in if the distributor was equipped with a vacuum advance from the factory. Let me know if I can answer any other questions. -Mike www.vintageignition.com
Yep, that IS the vacuum advance. Just make sure there's no fitting in the side for a vacuum line, some had it there and not in the cover. you can pull the cover and see if there is a piston/spring ***embly in there or if it's just empty or plugged. You can change the vacuum advance ones over to full mechanical with some extra parts.
Try this link: http://fordbarn.com Select Early V8 Forum on the left of the home screen. Scroll down to a post by a guy named Richard in Florida dated 10/24/05. Good discusstion on old Mallory distributors with pictures about the vacuum advance.
And...it ain't an advance--it's a retard!! Really! On Mallory patent distributors, which is pre-Mr Gasket Chinese made Mallorys and the Mallory design '32-48 Ford distributor, the centrifugal curve is the part throttle curve, in other words MORE advance than needed at full throttle. The piston in that port works a puck against a disc brake inside that rotates the advance BACK at times of low vacuum (full throttle). So, it is a vac retard.
There is a guy name Michael Mancini that seems to specialize in these old Mallory's and is VERY knowledgable and willing to answer questions and help people out, he even knew a lot about my distributor. Nice guy, contact him if you have further questions or want to get work done on that thing. www.vintageignition.com Adam
Looks like that very same person posted a few above me, I should learn to read! Didn't see it was you there...consider it a plug, Mike! Adam
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