8BA distributor question??

Can you guys help me out here I have a 53 Merc. flathead with the distributor on the front off to the right on an angle. Can that be changed to the one that is in the front in the middle with a crab cap? and what do I need to change it? Thanks.

 

Change the whole front cover, and I think you have to change the cam to the older style too.

 

If you are rebuilding, very easy...doing it as a separate project would be a real pain as valve gear is pretty hard to take apart. You need a '42-48 front cover and cam; most hotrod cams for early engine are the '42-8 type.
You get a much better ignition this way. If length is an issue, as with building a model A with V8, with minor work you can swap out the pumps and pulley to get an engine that is significantly shorter than a stock '52.