I occasionally see Y-Block Holley Roto-Vance distributors for sale on EBay.   They look to be all centrifugal advance.  Some have dual points.  Are they usable?   Are parts a problem?  Can they be converted to Pertronix?  Thanks!

I occasionally see Y-Block Holley Roto-Vance distributors for sale on EBay. They look to be all centrifugal advance. Some have dual points. Are they usable? Are parts a problem? Can they be converted to Pertronix?

Both HOLLEY and MALLORY offered this style DIST for a true period performance engine. It was a centrifugal advance only (one way to beat LOAD-O-MATIC). It would be hard on fuel mileage on the street.

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Back when I was first learning to drive, my father bought a used 1957 Ford Custom 300. I used to drive it on dates.  This Ford had a 272 with an automatic. I would look at the engine often and I remember it having a Holley distributor.  It must have been a Roto-Vance.  I also remember my father swapping it out for a stock Ford distributor.  Gas mileage must have been the problem?

I assume these distributor use a standard Ford cap? If you are looking for totally mechanical advance Y-Block distributor, is a Roto-Vance a decent option?

They have vacuum advance.

1936 Ford 3W Coupe : 56 T-Bird 312, 47 Packard 3 speed, 40 juice brakes.
1968 Merc Cyclone FB GT 390, Getting a better front clip!
1977 Ford F-250 Supercab RWD Explorer Long box.
1976 Chev Camaro RS LT
Future rebuild : 1949 Ford F-1

I don't see the vacuum advance canister.  Am I missing something?

Not a canister, it is built into the advance. See the brass fitting in your pic, that is for the vac line.
Not to be used with the Holley 4000 (Teapot) carb without removing the Spark Control Valve and doing the mod Posted on this site for 57 and later Distributors.
The Roto-Vance came out in 1958 and were also available for many other engines.


1936 Ford 3W Coupe : 56 T-Bird 312, 47 Packard 3 speed, 40 juice brakes.
1968 Merc Cyclone FB GT 390, Getting a better front clip!
1977 Ford F-250 Supercab RWD Explorer Long box.
1976 Chev Camaro RS LT
Future rebuild : 1949 Ford F-1

They have vacuum advance.

Where?

I think the confusion is here -

HOLLEY was the primary vendor for IGN and CARB for years. LOM and Dual Advance was their design. FOMOCO bought and used. HOLLEY also made regular a DIST with the HOLLEY logo. Also made were DIST for Heavy Truck that was centrifugal but received a manifold vacuum signal for a governor. They also designed the FORD 2100 and 4100 Series carb.

The HOLLEY centrifugal DIST took a HOLLEY DIST cap and points. Same with MALLORY.

I see no advantage of using one over a modified DUAL ADV (63/64 LT) unless the vacuum canister will not clear the intake you are planning on using.

CORRECTION -

As I have been corrected to  realized it can operate off ported/manifold vacuum (not SPARK CONTROL VALVE), it seems a logical choice to use with the EDL 8V intake if clearance is an issue.

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Not a canister, it is built into the advance. See the brass fitting in your pic, that is for the vac line.
Not to be used with the Holley 4000 (Teapot) carb without removing the Spark Control Valve and doing the mod Posted on this site for 57 and later Distributors.

The Roto-Vance came out in 1958 and were also available for many other engines.

THANK YOU!

I stand corrected-



It also shows FORD IGN parts.

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Were the Mallory distributors all centrifugal advance?  I avoided them back in the day. I understand caps and parts are expensive?  Is there any all centrifugal advance Y-Blocks distributors still available new?

From the Holley CARBOGRAM July 1958







1936 Ford 3W Coupe : 56 T-Bird 312, 47 Packard 3 speed, 40 juice brakes.
1968 Merc Cyclone FB GT 390, Getting a better front clip!
1977 Ford F-250 Supercab RWD Explorer Long box.
1976 Chev Camaro RS LT
Future rebuild : 1949 Ford F-1