About the strip the distributor in the wife's 55 Tbird and already see that the shaft has quite some movement so I suspect a bushing needs replacing. I did some searching but am coming up empty on specs for what is permitted side to side movement. Anyone know of a good resource for rebuilding these things, specs/parts?
I would replace it with a 57 or newer distributor. the later models had a better single advance type.
Someone at Y-Blocks Forever should be able to provide the information you need if no one chimes in here. And yes, the '57 up distributor is mechanical and vacuum advance compared to the vacuum only older units. -Dave
If you change over to a 57 or later unit you will have to use manifold vacuum, DO not use the same port that was used by the old distributor vacuum. Side to side play (like any distributor) should be around .003-.005 max.
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