I just bought an original 1957 FEH Distributor. The Vacuum Advance Unit uses Springs and Spacers to adjust the amount of  Advance and Rate I assume. How does this System work? "Greenbird56" Steve Metzger can probably explain it if He sees this Post. Thanks

  

Mark, the Reader's Digest version: there are calibration washers in the vacuum chamber, behind the nut. The addition of a washer will decrease the amount of advance, remove a washer to increase the amount of advance. This per the '64 Ford shop manual

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The biggest problem I have run across with the 1957 FEH distributors is the vacuum advance. It seems this was a one time design and the parts that go in the inlet portion are practically non-existent. The advance body itself is still available(MAC's), but the washers, spring, inlet fitting or nut, cannot be found new. If you have a used unit, be sure to hold on to the inlet parts!

Don't let it Buffalo you Mark!
Take THE RASCAL APART AND PLAY WITH IT. Vacuum pulls the diaphragm toward the inlet - resisted by the spring. The spring preload is basically shimmed - and the shims have a double effect: they obviously increase the pressure against the diaphragm - but they also provide the dead stop point where you won't get any more travel (coil bind). I've replaced the spring with one out of my junk box - and that worked,  so I know you can work around the ancient design. I have used my old Oldsmobile 442 as a "vacuum donor"  and simply fooled with them on the end of a length of rubber hose before - Y vacuum off of your '56?

The vacuum cans work with a matching point pivot plate (dog-leg operator bar on later ones). On my bird I have used the '76-up vacuum can - with a matching Duraspark II stator plate pivot - in a '59 distributor body. What I haven't tried is putting a '73 pivot plate on there and running the later points on the earlier cam lobes - but it may be easy to rig up.

 
 Steve Metzger       Tucson, Arizona

Thanks Steve. I am going to install Pertronix. The advance Unit looks like its pretty flexible as far as Rate of Advance and how much Advance. Just happy to have found a proper Distributor so I can get on with my Holley Upgrade on my latest Purchase.se.

  

Even if you can only use the mechanical portion, for whatever reason, it will be an upgrade.  So it's a good find considering the Cardone issue.


Lawrenceville, GA

I was assured by Seller that is complete and Vacuum Advance Tested. That's why I bought it. We'll see when I get it.

  

If I understand You correctly Steve, if You change the Breaker Plate to later Style You can also change the Vacuum Can to later Style also?

  

Didn't the original 57 have a ball bearing breaker plate? It will be interesting to see what you get. Most have been replaced over the years..