I want to convert my French Flathead to mechanical advance ignition and plan to install the Mallory dual points distributor. I run a 6 Volt negative earth electrical set-up in my '37 Ford, so breakerless is no option. The various French Flathead distributors by Ducellier are all of the short shaft design, but SIMCA used a different distributor clamping method and their diameter is different. It features a slotted tube timing gear cover instead of Ford's hold down bracket on the block. I understand the Mallory dual contact distributor can only be used with a Ford timing gear cover, but I'm unsure whether this needs to be a long or short shaft one. The Mallory also comes without the gear, so I need to obtain that part as well. Hopefully it fits the French Flathead cam gear. So some questions are still open before I can covert my Flathead to mechanical advance. Any other recommendations for centrifugal advance on a French Flathead are appreciated.
The Mallory comes with the long shaft. Depending on your timing gear cover, you may have to cut the shaft. The instruction sheet shows you what to do. The shaft is soft metal and a hacksaw will cut through it. You'll also have to drill through the shaft to mount the drive gear. Do a search here on Mallory Dual Point distributors. They say to trash the Mallory points and condenser right away.
Thanks - is there another option to convert a French Flathead to mechanical advance retaining a six Volt electrical system?
Another option is the crab style distributor that mounts directly to the timing cover. I guess you will need the early style cam. I run this set up on my french block. The new Mallory dual point distributor needs to be checked for correct advance curve out of the box - and replace the condenser as mentioned above.
I don't plan to change the camshaft and like to keep the 8BA distributor position as it is easier to work on.
any other ideas? Can I adapt a small-block Chevy distributor for the French Flathead timing cover as well?
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