A little something for you Hemi guys. I do one of these every now and then. The old autolite cast iron distributor ( either dual or single point) is a really good little distributor . I know many want the electronic welder unit from MSD but really thats kinda a waste of money. Spend your extra cash on something else. You can still put a MSD sticker on your car, most wont know.. The cast iron cleans up really well inside and out. A little wire brush makes all the insides look brand new. Use care with the upper bearing plate and with some cleanup and lube they usually live thru the entire rebuild. Vacuum advance may be hard to find if it needs replacing ( I just bought a nos one on ebay for $69.00. This one came from a 1956 Chrysler Hemi with a 392 in it. Being built for a hot rod project....
I ran mine for many years. Around 1995 I replaced it with an early electronic aluminum one. All that is needed is to extend the bottom tab about 1/2" for a 331 or 354. Beauty of the Chrysler electronic one is the cap is small like the early cap so it still looks reasonably stock.
it worries me when i see screws and washers leftover on the bench. i can't help but think i forgot something
I have seen this for so many years, doesn't bother me in the slightest. The part that DOES bother me is I feel compelled to save those spare fasteners, but where to save them that I will, a)remember I did it, and b) know what they might fit if I do find them again. Oh, the pressure.
OOPS !!!!!!! Finally got this distributor on the machine to check advance and finish the set up. Testing didnt go so well (cant win them all). First the vacuum advance is junk, very few replacements available but found a new one on ebay. Cost me $69 plus shipping but its on the way!! Adjusted the points and tryed to rev it up. NOPE will only go up to approx 4500 before i pick up the double firing caused by point bounce. These cheap contacts are terrible , may run a 318 with some little old lady driving it but this customer is a hot rod guy and i know he will want some more rpm!! Ok quick look up in old napa buyers guide shows the CS720 and my local store has them. (i live close to the NAPA warehouse). Picked them up and started to install them this morning. NOPE they are backwards for what i need !!!!!!! Further look up shows the correct point being the CS721A set. Looks like the 51-55 uses the CS721 and the 56- up uses the CS720. My warehouse didnt have them on the shelf so i ordered a pair and looked on EBAY and bought 5 sets NOS in the box for next Hemi i do. SO lets discuss the point problem with cheapie points , look at the picture the cheap set uses a cheap nylon arm and a single spring ( cheap off shore that rusts overnight). The HD Echlin uses a quality spring with a br*** conact strip as well. Will give ya the rpm band when i get a set of the correct points. Ever wonder why i dont get anything done some days????
The Jalopy Journal
