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By Steve R - Last Month
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I'm new to the forum, the proud possessor of a '54 Willys station wagon with a Y-block (312, as best I can tell). It's running an old points-style distributor, and I want to change over to an HEI unit. Any thoughts on which HEI distributor works well with the Y-block?
Thanks!
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By 55blacktie - Last Month
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Identifying your distributor should be easy. If it's an original 55-up distributor, simply remove the distributor cap.Pre-57 distributors (Loadomatic) are vacuum-advance-omly; the advance springs are visible on top of the breaker plate. 57-up distributors have both vacuum and centrifugal advance; the advance springs, being under the breaker plate, are not visible. Loadomatic distributors have a red ID tag riveted to the distributor body. 57-up distributors have the ID cast into the body/w no red tag. Ted Eaton tested a CRT/TSP aftermarket electronic distributor and liked it enough to recommend it over an original 57 tach-drive distributor. CRT has two styles, with and without tach-drive. Some people have reported clearance issues with the aftermarket distributors. If you have an original distributor, you have the option of simply replacing the points with a Pertronix I or II.
I have no idea how much clearance you have with a 312 in a 54 Willys wagon.
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By Ted - Last Month
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Here’s a link to a previous discussion about some of the various electronic distributors for the Ford Y. Included in this particular thread is a post that includes a list of links that will lead to other discussions.
http://forums.y-blocksforever.com/FindPost168314.aspx
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By Steve R - Last Month
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Thanks! Not a lot of room in there, so thinking it's going to be remote coil.
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By DryLakesRacer - Last Month
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Hate Or Love..... A Pertronics 2 with their coil and keeping the stock resistor has served me for 13 years trouble free. My 56 uses a 57-up distributor and the carburetors are Carters WCFB's. Just another option that fits especially with an intake manifold change.
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By 55blacktie - Last Month
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The Pertronix II coil has a primary resistance of 0.600 ohms; a ballast resistor isn't used.
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By DryLakesRacer - Last Month
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When I purchased my Pertronix I contacted them as they were local to me at that time. The internet was loaded with coil failures which was the reason for the call to them. I asked it if was a detriment to use the the resister and the techs comment was no. The voltage to the plugs would be lower but not effect anything else if I kept the hot 12V start which it did. I wanted longevity and rid myself of condenser failures (2 so far) and point maintenance. As I stated 13 years and the only thing I've done is clean out the distributor cap twice and wiped the spark plug wired. The spark plugs run clean and the engine has never had a miss.
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By 55blacktie - Last Month
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DryLakesRacer (6/16/2026)
When I purchased my Pertronix I contacted them as they were local to me at that time. The internet was loaded with coil failures which was the reason for the call to them. I asked it if was a detriment to use the the resister and the techs comment was no. The voltage to the plugs would be lower but not effect anything else if I kept the hot 12V start which it did. I wanted longevity and rid myself of condenser failures (2 so far) and point maintenance. As I stated 13 years and the only thing I've done is clean out the distributor cap twice and wiped the spark plug wired. The spark plugs run clean and the engine has never had a miss.
The Pertronix I coil has 1.5 ohm resistance (use ballast resistor). The Pertronix II, once again, has 0.6 resistance (no ballast resistor). My CRT electronic distributor does not require a ballast resistor.
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