I've changed the distributor in my '54 239 because I have 3 carbs. Changed the distributor, gear to new distributor, oil pump and drive..

  Dennis in Lititz PA

That's a safe assumption, I've never heard of such. You might check evilBay, there's prolly an intermediate shaft or 2 there.

Thanks guys.  Can I assume no one makes an adaptor to mate the tang and hex in to one shaft?

I thought so. This Question comes up from Time to Time. Still well worth the Expense. Runs much better with later Dist. Even better when You change the Carb.

  

'54s have a tang drive, '55s and all later have a hex drive. If your new dizzy has a hex drive you need the matching intermediate shaft to the oil pump. If your '54 distributor gear is in good shape you can swap it to the later distributor otherwise you'll need to change to a later cam with the proper gear pitch for the later distributor drive gear.

Good thought.  Actually no, so the oil pump also needs to be replaced, to match the hex drive of the new distributor and a hex pump drive shaft will be needed.


Lawrenceville, GA

Charlie is the Oil Pump drive Shaft the same for 54 as 56?

  

The distributor gear.  If everything is original, you will have to swap the gear from your old distributor to the new one.

It is not a T-bird distributor so if that is important, it's not what you want.


Lawrenceville, GA

OK, I go on line today and the Cardone 30-2808 sez it won't fit my 54 Merc 256 Y block but will fit 272 and up.  Anyone know why?