Hi all,

I did some searching and found some info on my y-block distributor.  It is the early style I learned.  One of the springs disintegrated at some point in the past due to rust.  I want to replace them.  I also figured out that not all springs are the same when looking at them from the length perspective.  My MSD's springs are quite a bit shorter than what the Y's distributor uses.  My later 60's Merc's distributor has shorter springs as well.  Or is this spring thing just my imagination and they are all pretty close to the same? 

Does someone sell a kit for distributor springs for these early distributors?  I want to do some experimenting with lighter and heavier spring combos like what I did with my 69's MSD distributor. 

Thanks everyone!

Nick in WI

The "slot" style upper rotor shaft (Autolite distributor) has a pair of openings that engage the flyweight pins -

The slots in this one were arranged to provide 20° at the distributor and 40° at the crank. Stiff springs are the norm. 

The later arrangement (Motorcraft Distributor) has two notch openings that can be switched to alter the travel stops. The stamped "13L" and "18L" markings are indicative of the distirbutor degrees they allow. There are more than a few variants. I've got a "10L" and "15L" before too.

This one has a 13° and an 18° - with the notch opening sizes shown. A 10L opening could be enlarged if you wanted - just takes a file.

    Steve Metzger       Tucson, Arizona

     

Edited: Sunday, November 08, 2009 7:18 AM by AZ28