|
Author
|
Message
|
|
Tedster
|
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Active: 4 Years Ago
Posts: 513,
Visits: 153.3K
|
They may be expensive if you find one, Mac's (for example) wants $200 for their part #12127-2109 plus a $50 core, which if I had to guess is not included in the catalog price. And then shipping. So likely getting close to 300 bones. I bought one (as I recall) from this guy several years ago. No problems. Keep in mind if you go this route the supplied points & condensers in the rebuilds are generally no good, and must be replaced with NOS. https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F301031593632
|
|
|
|
|
charliemccraney
|
|
|
Group: Moderators
Last Active: Last Year
Posts: 6.1K,
Visits: 443.0K
|
If you buy a remanufactured distributor, it will most likely be Cardone, no matter who you get it from or the brand on the packaging. The best thing at this point seems to be to take the distributor to a shop that actually does rebuilds in house. I don't have any suggestions for that. If you try another vendor, find out where theirs are rebuilt and state the issue with Cardone and that you don't want to receive one with the same issue. If they say theirs is different, try it but make sure to get the name of the person you spoke with. That way, if it is just more of the same, you have some recourse - they should refund in full and pay return shipping.
Lawrenceville, GA
|
|
|
|
|
yblock57
|
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Active: Last Year
Posts: 99,
Visits: 6.7K
|
I just bought a cardone (part #30-2808) from O'Reilly's to upgrade the load-a-matic that's in my '56 truck. Upon closer inspection, it looks like I have the same issues y'all have pointed out; incorrect shaft length and gear in wrong spot.
What are y'all using for distributors now? Should I order from one of the vendors like Mac's? I'd prefer to get one through a local auto supply that would allow me to swap in the future if there's ever a problem.
Thanks in advance!
Kent — Round Rock, TX
'56 F-100 | '56 Crown Vic | '57 Fairlaine 500 | '57 Thunderbird
|
|
|
|
|
Florida_Phil
|
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Active: 3 Years Ago
Posts: 1.2K,
Visits: 285.6K
|
I replaced my 1955 Load-a-matic with a 57 Ford distributor I ordered from Mac's last summer. I replaced the intake and carb at the same time. I ordered a 1957 312 distributor on their website. I had a 57 distributor out of another engine that needed a rebuild. My 57 distributor was the kind with the ball bearing advance plate. The Mac's distributor they sent me was the type with the two piece advance plate. I had no problems installing the Mac's distributor in my '55 292. About two days after I swapped distributors the car quit running and left me on the side of the road. After Triple A towed me home, I replaced the points and condenser with quality parts and have had no issues since. I have put about 600 miles on the car since then with no problems. The car runs great. I hate to pull the distributor to see if the shaft length is correct. The oil looks fine and I have no reason to think there is a problem. Should I be worried?
|
|
|
|
|
oldcarmark
|
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Active: 6 hours ago
Posts: 3.7K,
Visits: 32.7K
|
I sent an Email to the Tech Dept at Cardone asking about the Problem posted here. Asking if they were aware of the problem with Shaft Length and has it been corrected? Response was not having a problem and they are built to OE Specs. Maybe it was just One batch assembled wrong or have there been any recent problems with these? I have purchased 2 in the past and not had any problem with them except for one with excessive vertical free play which I corrected using Shims. Email- tech@cardone.com
 
|
|
|
|
|
monarch
|
|
Hitting on all eight cylinders
Group: Forum Members
Last Active: 2 Years Ago
Posts: 13,
Visits: 1.2K
|
Got 4 distributors from Napa. They all had the wrong shafts. Not Napas fault all ordered with right part number. Have since found a core that needs rebuilding. Now to find a shop that does in house rebuilding locally. Has a few missing pieces but is the right distributor. Thanks Bill
|
|
|
|
|
willys392
|
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Active: 6 Years Ago
Posts: 19,
Visits: 1.8K
|
I have a Cardone 2808 distributor. The gear measures 5" from the mounting base surface to the bottom of the gear but the hex shaft measures only 5 13/16". Am I to believe that this distributor is of no use in a Y block?
Bill
|
|
|
|
|
Gene Purser
|
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Active: 5 Years Ago
Posts: 220,
Visits: 6.0K
|
I've been out of john2747 (11/17/2017)
Gene I have read about bad Cardone rebuilds in the past,it seems they only do "cosmetic" rebuilds.Y-Block specs for distributors are in the 1957 ford shop manual.With the distributor removed from the engine they give a measurement of .022"to .030" total main shaft end play,this can be measured with a feeler gauge at the gap between the bottom of the housing and the small collar that is pinned to the shaft.Your measurements indicate that your distributor has .032" shaft end play,that should be close enough.Using your measurements for the shoulder to bottom of the gear it appears that the gear was pressed on the shaft about .076" to far,or the gear is from another distributor,or the original pin hole was drilled crooked and the gear was turned 180* when it was reassembled.Taking that measurement is a bit tricky,the ford mechanics used gauge to position the gear.Double checking the distributor in an empty block,with a feeler gauge is allot easier.With the distributor installed in the block and clamped down and the main shaft pulled up a gauge of .008"to .012" should be ok between the gear and the machined pad in the block.With the main shaft pushed down the gear must make contact with the pad.If it dose not contact the pad then it is not located properly.There is a weight plate pinned to the shaft near the top when the shaft is pushed down it contacts the top of the shaft bushing,but it is not meant to run like that,and will wear away the top of the bushing,not good.Perhaps finding a good used distributor that has never been rebuilt is a better way to go.I think the 59 to 64 distributors are better than the earlier ones.I hope things work out. john2747 Paul, thank you for your thorough reply. Until just recently I've been away from Y blocks for 20+ years, first into street rods and then into flatheads. I dug around in my stash of Y block parts and found a 1959 core distributor and it measures less than 4.900 also. Maybe my measuring method or tool is faulty. I get the same measurements with a digital and a dial caliper, admittedly not machinist quality. I have a bare 292 block stuck away in a corner and will dig it out and see if I can check the distributor there. Thank you so much again for your informative post.
|
|
|
|
|
Y block Billy
|
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Active: 8 Years Ago
Posts: 1.6K,
Visits: 5.2K
|
I recently had a similar problem with a 57 Tbird I worked on, checking the distributor out the advance was chewing into the bottom of the housing and it was full of aluminum shavings, when investigated it was found that someone had installed a thick gasket under the distributor flange where it rest on the block. This caused the gear to not rest on the pad in the block down by the oil pump shaft. Rotational forces on the gear were pulling down on it creating the wear in the housing. Like John states is is important that the gear rest on the block then check up and down movement of shaft in distributor. Being a Tbird with tack drive there was no other option but to make it work! unobtainium!
 55 Vicky & customline 58 Rack Dump, 55 F350 yard truck, 57 F100 59 & 61 P 400's, 58 F100 custom cab, 69 F100, 79 F150, 82 F600 ramp truck, 90 mustang conv 7 up, 94 Mustang, Should I continue?
|
|
|
|
|
30 coupe
|
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Active: Last Year
Posts: 130,
Visits: 3.4K
|
I bought a cardone rebuilt dist. a couple of years ago. The first time I told them I wanted a dist for a '64 ford truck with a 292. They went with the listing for the eng. size in Liters, and I ended up with a 289 dist. we finally ordered one for a '62 truck with a 292. got a dist that looked correct, but by the ford # on the dist, it was a 302, modified for a y-block. It had a shaft that was to short just as you guys describe, but unfortunately I had already converted it to a ford dura-spark internally , and could not return it. I did not use the dist. as I was concerned about not having enough of the oil pump drive shaft engaging in the dist. I was afraid of a pump shaft failure or some thing related going wrong and destroying a new eng. ended up buying a MSD electronic dist. still not sure I will use it. may have firewall clearance problems when I put the eng. in my '30 coupe. anyway , I think the cardone dist. are not very good.
|
|
|
|