Can a

They are Chinese copies of MSD.  I haven't heard of any problems with them and you usually hear when things are junk.  If the actually are reliable, then they are potentially a good deal.  My biggest concern with Chinese products is support.  If there are problems, will you get help?  Are consumables available, cap, rotor, etc. or will you have to get an entire new distributor when it comes time to replace those?  If the latter, then it is not a good deal in the long run.

That said, I have heard of problems with the MSD ready to run distributors, which would be the direct comparison.  There is, I think a pro billet which is better but it is not "ready to run" meaning that an external box is required, not optional.

I would go with rebuilt and if you want electronic ignition, get a conversion for it.  I don't know that I would go with Cardone or any "off-the-shelf" rebuild, which is probably Cardone no matter the brand on the box, at the moment.  They seem to have problems with the shaft length lately.  Try to find a place that can actually perform a rebuild in house.


Lawrenceville, GA

i was told the pickup coil is bad, but a gm 1 will fit. the 1 i bought  i resold  at a swap meet. I have converted 3 57 and late r block diist. to ford dura spark with great success. you need patience and some teck smarts. only issue is i can't find a source for cent force weight  plastick bushings. any help would be great. if any 1 wants i have a wiring diagram. for best results you need a dura spark coil as well

That is a Load-O-Matic distributor, which will only work with the carburetor it was designed for.  If you do not have an original or if you want to use a modern carb, you must use a distributor for '57 or newer.

Even if you do have the original carb and no plan to upgrade, the newer distributor is a better choice.


Lawrenceville, GA

http://www.4secondsflat.com/Ford%20Y-Block%20Distributors.htm
These are a little pricey but the guy knows his stuff. Ive been thinking about ditching my MSD for one of these.

Durham Missouri

If more or less stock is what you are after, then that will do it.

When you say little 2-barrel, you want a ;57-'64 2-barrel intake which will have the modern, larger 4 bolt flange.  You do not want an earlier, smaller 3-bolt flange manifold.


Lawrenceville, GA

where do you live. if in the west frt is cheap, my friend and i convert 57-60 y distributors to dura spark for250 us and can supply new dura spark module  for 100cnd. our issues hear is the y 57-60 dist.as the brain dead gov hear squashes everything. cores impose. to find.
 and will supply inst to wire. inst paper. cliff  at ct1940@shaw.ca. have a mail address in blain wa.

That is not ideal, but it will work.  If you use the newer distributor then you have two options regarding the vacuum advance.  Option one is not to use it.  It is only an economy feature for the newer distributors and is not mandatory for the basic operation of the distributor.  Option two is to use manifold vacuum.  This will require a vacuum port located as centrally as possible in the intake or incorporated into a carburetor spacer.  Ideally, that vacuum signal must come from both planes of the intake.

Another issue with that intake and later heads is the port mismatch.  That intake will have smaller ports than the newer heads.

The '57 on 2-barrel intakes are pretty cheap and a carb to go with it can probably be found pretty reasonably.  There are several of those intakes on eBay right now at $92 and free shipping.  Search for y block intake.  Also check here in the classifieds.

Be aware that swapping to different components may require modifications to fuel lines, linkage, different air filters, etc.  If you are not comfortable with all of that then I would not recommend the swap.


Lawrenceville, GA

I have a 2 barrel intake off a 61 F600 if your interested. I'll let it go cheap.

Durham Missouri

Y intakes are easy to swap.  Since you already have that, try it.  If it does not satisfy you, then you know of other options.


Lawrenceville, GA