A side note on 1957-58 distributors,  according to J. Mummert.. "If" being used in a high performance engine, those models had more centrifical advance than later distributors & were originally intended to run about 3* of initial advance. John points out that high performance cams usually need more initial advance to run properly, this can result in excessive total advance, risking "detonation issues"...     


Paul

How could you know for sure unless you remove it and check it out? It will seem ok, until it isn't.

So True..

Thanks OldcarMark. I won't worry the next time I start my 56.


~DJ~ AKA "Bleach"
1956 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan 30K original miles

Actually it's the Idiot at Cardone who came up with this Idea who should be heading Somewhere- like out the Door!

  

I think most of the Cardone rebuilds are done in Mexico so I hope they are all headed south of the border..

The Length from the bottom of the flat Pad that sits on the Block to the end of the Shaft should be 6". The wrong  one's are 5 3/4". Quite noticeable when measured. When these were purchased there was a note inside the Box stating that the Rebuilt should be compared with the One being replaced for correct Dimensions.

  

I bought one of the imposters in April, 2016, so it's been a little longer than that.
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You'll have to pull the distributor and check. It's obvious once you know what to look for. The bottom of the distributor gear itself, the machined surface pad, the distance from that point to the distributor housing flange that sits on the block, must measure between 4.991" and 4.996" with the distributor shaft pulled down.

Cardone starting using too short Shafts about 18 Mos. ago. 1/4"  too short. The Ones prior to that should be fine. They ran out of good original Cores and started making what I call Frankensteins using Small Block Ford Cores and passing them off as correct for Y Block. They don't sit on the Pad inside the Block, the Oil Pump Shafts don't go in far enough, and the Drive Gear sits 1/4 " too high. Now they seem to have withdrawn them for sale as everywhere I checked they are indicating "not available". Good thing too.

  

How do you know if you have a bad Cardone distributor? I bought one a few years ago and it seems ok but I haven't put much mileage on it.


~DJ~ AKA "Bleach"
1956 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan 30K original miles