What I would like to see is a modern electronic distributor with tachometer drive ability that will drop in to the '55-'57 Thunderbirds with 12V compatibility.  I know there were dual point aftermarket distributors available years ago, but we need an updated modern electronic distributor like the MSD with tach drive.  Anyone know of such a dependable distributor available?  Dependable.  Joe-JDC

JDC

The 1953 Ford flathead produced 194 ft lbs and 110 hp. The 1957 Y-block 332 ft lbs and 245 hp (single 4-barrel D code). The 312 produced considerably more horsepower and torque and had a considerably higher compression ratio. Common sense tells me that the carryover flathead Load-o-matic distributor couldn't provide the total amount of advance needed for the later y-blocks to reach their optimal performance and efficiency. An attempt was made to improve the Load-o-matic for the 1956 312 by adding a dual-pot vacuum advance, but still no mechanical advance. When horsepower increased in 1957, the D-code received a larger 4150 Holley carburetor and a new distributor/w both vacuum and mechanical advance. 

A modern carb will not provide the correct vacuum signal for that distributor.  The result will be that the advance is not controlled even remotely in a correct manner, providing too much advance at times that it is not needed and too little when more is needed.  At best, it results in poor performance at the worst, it causes engine damage.


Lawrenceville, GA

A 57-up carburetor relies on mechanical advance, which the 55 distributor does not have. The 55 vacuum advance is designed to work with the Teapot carburetor. In other words, with a 57-up carburetor and a 55 distributor, he will have no ignition advance. The vacuum advance circuitry can be plugged on a Teapot, thereby relying solely on the mechanical advance of a 57-up distributor, which he does not have. I think it makes more sense when Ted says it, but people who have already figured it out will know what I'm trying to say.  

57rancherojim, read the article, not just the title.

His situation is the opposite. Later carb and early distributor.

Go to eatonbalancing.com, click on "Quick Index" at the top of the page, and then select "Modifying the Holley 4000(Teapot) for the late model distributors." I think it will answer your question better than I can. 

The data plate was painted over.  Cleaned if off as best as possible.  Lower left is stamped 572, top right stamped FEV, lower right stamped E.  Just curious why you can't run it with a modern Holley carb?  My dad swapped out the teapot intake to the B manifold, and ran a modern Holley carb on his other 1955 bird without any issues that I know of.  He did not change the distributor.

Paul

Looks like a 55 distributor to me. It doesn't have the dual vacuum pot of the 56, but it does have exposed springs found on the 55-56 vacuum-advance-only distributors. It is not a 57 distributor/w both vacuum and mechanical advance. A 57 distributor would not have the exposed springs above the breaker plate.A 55 distributor should have a data/model plate attached to the distributor housing. I think 56 distributors do as well. The information is cast into a 57 distributor's body; there's no plate. A 57 distributor cap will not fit on a 55/56 distributor. If you are going to run a modern 57-up carburetor, you will need a 57-up distributor. 

If you can provide the model/part number, one of us can tell you exactly what you have, but it definitely isn't a 57 distributor.

Thanks Guys
  Could not find any casting numbers on the distributor.  There is an attached plate with just a few numbers.  It came out of a stick car.

Paul