Hi Todd,  Yes you should be able to get a Pertronix for a Y block and be ready to roll.  It looks like a '57 size distributor cap, you can measure the O.D. of the distributor and make sure.  The Pertronix is different for a '56 vs. '57 and later.  Just be sure you can return the Pertronix if it won't fit.  I believe the condenser for your distributor is located on the outside, like the Mallorys of that era.  Have fun, Nick Brann

What's interesting is that the distributor looks like a '57-style, the points inside are '54-56 style...

Can anyone tell me what the O.D. of a '56 versus a '57 distributor measures?

Todd in Central California...about half way between Fresno and Sacramento

1956 Thunderbird - 1960 F-100 - 1961 Starliner - 1961 Imperial

Todd:

'56 is 3 1/2", '57 is 3.680.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

Many thanks John...

Todd in Central California...about half way between Fresno and Sacramento

1956 Thunderbird - 1960 F-100 - 1961 Starliner - 1961 Imperial

Now that I understand there is a Dual Point - and a Dual Coil the differences seem a bit more obvious!

I suppose the next question to be answered is what is the distance across the flats of the cam - and does it differ from '56 to '57. That would maybe be a difference in the Pertronix magnets. 

 
 Steve Metzger       Tucson, Arizona

From the picture the bottom set is centered between the lobes and the top set is about to open on a lobe and the way it is wired from one set to the other and then just one wire to the coil it appears that this would give each plug two quick sparks?

Am I missing something here?

55 Vicky & customline

58 Rack Dump, 55 F350 yard truck, 57 F100

59 & 61 P 400's, 58 F100 custom cab, 69 F100, 79 F150, 82 F600 ramp truck, 90 mustang conv 7 up, 94 Mustang, Should I continue?

If memory serves me correct, Mallory used to make a conversion plate to allow two sets of overlapping points in a Ford dist. I think the idea was to get more dwell with less points movement to avoid bounce at higher rpm. Seem to remember a little vacuum switch that wired in somehow, and when it was closed (or open, can't remember) would cut one set out and give a little change in timing, like vacuum advance. I had one in a 57 dist that supposedly came out of a police car, and had the tach drive, Late 60's in a 55 bird. Took it out as it was more trouble than it was worth. I think the switch is still around in a box of old electrics.

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ

I dont know about the ignitor II but the new III doesnt use a magnet anymore but rather works off of the lobes.  If you get it there is one for all of the Y-blocks.  If you shoot them a email, they get back to you really quick and then you can just buy what they suggest.

1958 F100 292

"Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs."

"Chop your own wood, and it will warm you twice."

-Henry Ford

Billy - The coil secondary "fires" when the circuit breaks. So both points have to be open to break this circuit - but only one has to be closed to make it.

The overlap gives the system extra "dwell".....say one set of points is 25° dwell (coil charge time) and the second adds another 10°-12°. 

For Todd to get the spark performance available from the old dual point - he'll need somethig like the later Ignitor units to get his "dwell" back....

 
 Steve Metzger       Tucson, Arizona

Which brings up the question, if the dual point gives more dwell than stock & assuming the distributor is in o.k. shape, why modify it ?

Paul