....and thanks to Frank from me on the spring info.

Richard

thanks to everone for the info looks like it has a 57 in it allready

Rich,

          The reason they're suggesting the later distributor is that the '57 is much more difficult to find. I notice your avitar shows a 55/56 T'Bird. If this is the car you're working on be aware that the NAPA/Autozone unit is a passenger car or truck unit. It does not have a mechanical distributor drive for the 'Bird Tachometer. You might also investigate an aftermarket spring kit (Crane?) as the truck unit's advance is very slow.  

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

Are these last ones significantly better than say a '57? I mean would it be worth swapping out a '57 to a '64 F100?

Richard

As you say, everything between the dizzys is different, main reason for explaining the key physical differences is if you dont have both to compare when looking for correct one.

  AussieBill            YYYY    Forever Y Block     YYYY

 Down Under, Australia

even the points are different so you cant go wrong.

I would suggest the simplest way to id the dizzys is the presence of the 2 advance springs on the breaker plate in the early one  54-56 and an absence of those on the later type,57 on. then in the later type there is the ball bearing base plate that takes the straight arm vacuum advance chamber and the more common with 2 piece breaker plate with bent arm vacuum advance chamber. Hope this simplifies it all.

  AussieBill            YYYY    Forever Y Block     YYYY

 Down Under, Australia

Hi Kansas,  Another easy way to identify a '57 and later distributor is to use a '57 distributor cap, it is way too big for a '54-56 Y-block distributor.  You'll probably need to buy a cap and rotor for a rebuilt distributor anyway, they don't usually come with them.  I would guess the difference in diameter between a '56 and a '57 is something like 3/8".  Good luck, Nick Brann - K.C., MO

The number on a 57 to 59 were FEK  or  FEH       12127      Ball bearing breaker plate

  Greg

As mentioned, the centrifugal weights under the breaker plate is the main difference, but a quick visual ID is that the earlier pre-57 dizzys have a larger vacuum canister.

Charlie Burns Laton, Ca (South of Fresno)



BurnsRacing981@gmail.com