I had posted earlier asking about info on a ARDUN conversion for a Ford flathead that my buddy Noel was wanting to do. I followed that up with another post after Noel got the car done last spring. After driving the car all summer, Noel is now having problems with the distributor and is looking for some advice and guidance. Here is what I know. 1) Car started dying but would restart after sitting a while. 2) Noel has ruled out vapor lock or a carb problem (dual 97 Strombergs) and believes he has an electrical / distributor issue. 3) The distributor is a Joe Hunt distributor that looks like a magneto that was purchased from Speedway. After looking at past posts about these mag looking distributors it does not seem like they do not have a very good reputation. 4) Noel sent the distributor back to Joe Hunt for them to look at after they promised him a quick turnaround. It has now been over a month and he has not heard anything. 5) Noel has ordered another Joe Hunt distributor from Speedway but they are on back order. Even if he gets his back repaired he figures carrying a spare in the trunk will be a good idea. 6) In the meantime, Noel wondered if there is anyone out there with knowledge of these distributors. 7) Or what is everyone's go to distributor that he could replace the Joe Hunt distributor with. He is running the 49-53 Ford flathead. He would like one with an internal coil and an electronic distributor is also OK. 8) Noel would love to talk to someone that has knowledge about distributors for the ARDUN. Noel is getting up there in age and he said he would really like to get his ARDUN back on the road ASAP while he is still healthy enough to drive it!
I had a customer that brought his 32 Ford in with the same type of distributor and it would do the same thing or just have erratic spark. I pulled the distributor out and it was eating itself inside like as if the machining was done improperly. I installed a stock type, AC Delco points distributor in it. And it's been no problem to ever since. I imagine you could put a stock Flathead distributor in it with the electronics if you wanted to.
I’ve been running an MSD in my 59L now for 15 yrs. I don’t see having ARDUN heads would make any difference. I’ve had No issues except for having to change the cap two different times.
Why would a guy spend the money on Ardun heads and use a mike hunt "looks like it is cool" distributer? Like @Petejoe I run MSD on my blown flathead and I have never had an issue with it. It doesn't look as cool as the hunt but it runs good.
I went thru 3 of those dam mag lookalikes from Speedway before the 4th one worked, never again. The car went to Portugal and I've never heard a thing. These days I use converted Chevy distributors with Pertronic guts from Charlie in New York in my 8BA's. Not the same cool factor but no problems.
He saw photos of other ARDUNs running this so he thought it must be the one to use. When he called me today I told him about the bad reviews they get on the HAMB and he said he wishes he would have called me before he bought the darn thing.
So send it back to Speedway in the box and get a refund. Then keep the rebuilt, if he ever gets it back, on the shelf. Find an old two-piece cap Mallory from a SBC and whittle down the housing so it slides in the cover. Switch the gears, just like the other guys who mention SBC distributors do. Have your favorite distributor curve guy make it all in by 28 degrees. Then use it with points and condensor like God intended.
This is what a modified Mallory looks like in front of an Ardun. He would need to devise a way to retain the distributor, though, as the SBC units and the heads don't have the corresponding flanges that were used by the stock 8BA distributor and the correct aftermarket ones.
Chickenridge. I used to make a CNC'd front cover that had a pinch clamp. Since I quit those I drill and tap a couple holes in the neck for some 1/4 inch stainless socket head set screws to retain the distributor. That motor is bitchin!
I don’t recall coil issues, are you possibly thinking of the large condensers Mallory used back in the day? The brass outer casings had a habit of splitting around the top where they were crimped to the Bakelite insulator but the condensers still worked as intended. HAMB’er @tubman has a nice repro of those for sale if anyone has a Mallory missing the condenser.
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