I want to install a later model yblock distributor with a Pertronix III conversion in my 1956 292 Ford. It seems that the Cardone 30-2808 distributor is out of stock just about everywhere I looked, even at Cardone. Pictured above are 2 distributors. The top one is a C3TF-12127 which is a 1963-64 yblock distributor according to y-block.com and the other is a remanufactored Cardone 30-2808. I have the opportunity to buy the C3TF-12127. There appears to be a tapered metal shaft extension inserted into the bottom of the C3TF-12127 distributor about an inch below the gear. The Cardone 30-2808 does not have this extension. What is the purpose of the tapered metal extension and is it removable?

The one with the tapered shaft appears to be the early (1954) distributor with the "tang" drive (hard to tell for sure, I couldn't enlarge the pic enough without losing detail). The tang fits in a slot in the oil pump drive the same way a screwdriver fits in a slotted screw. For the '55 model year forward Ford used a hex drive system.

If it IS a tang drive you can use it with the appropriate oil pump, however it is a Loadamatic type unit with no centrifugal advance so you pretty much have to also use the matching carb with it.

Thanks for the reply. I do not think it is a 1954 distributor. It is clearly marked C3TF 12127 (in another picture) which makes it a 1963-65 ford yblock according to www.ford-y-block.com/distributors.htm and is not a loadomatic. In another pic it also has a curved vacuum advance arm. I only want to know if the tapered extension is removable.

The stock distributor should not have that tapered extension, so if it is not modified, yes it will pull out.

It looks like you have pictures of two different "C3TF" distributors. The one that actually shows the engineering number has a big black plastic looking thing in it and doesn't have all of the blue overspray - it does have hints of blue but the pattern looks different. And the backgrounds are different.


Lawrenceville, GA

Could it be a broken off peice of the oil pump drive?

  AussieBill            YYYY    Forever Y Block     YYYY

 Down Under, Australia

It looks like a broken piece of the oil pump drive.It should come out as its a hex fit in the Distributor shaft.I noticed there is an "O" ring on the housing as an oil seal.That should be removed as I don't think it will go into a Y-Block .Not used on the Y-Block distributors.

  

The o-ring is used on the Motorcraft distributors. As long as it is placed correctly on an Autolite, it should be fine.


Lawrenceville, GA

The instructions that came with my Cardone 30-2808 stated that the distributor may be equipped, with either an o ring or a paper gasket. Mine came with a paper gasket but I assumed that the o ring equipped version would have worked just as well.

Mark

1956 Mercury M100
1955 Ford Fairlane Club Sedan
Delta, British Columbia

Y blocks do not use o rings or gaskets on the distributor no matter what they say. They can damage the distributor.

Hi all, this is my first post though I've been a member for awhile. I've learned a lot of from these forums and I'd like to start by thanking all of the regulars for sharing. I have a 56 Sunliner that I'm working on and have been lucky enough to have found Tim to rebuild my 292.

I too, am looking for a 30-2808 and have had a real problem finding one. I did find that O'Reilly's has a Richporter FD06 that supposedly is for a 64 f100 with a 292. Has anyone used one of these?