Ok. So my engine didn't have a carb on it and I cracked the distributor taking it out. Car is a 54 Lincoln Capri with the 317 y. Would like opinions on what I should look for. If I go stick just installing and done. If I upgrade, I'll have to change out the distributor gear and oil pump I heard. Along with carb adapter, carb and distributor. With the cost of the Lincoln parts vs upgrade cost, I'm unsure which way to go. Plus, I've heard a number of carb numbers for stock. R-991-1a,2a , 891, ,4000.
Would like to know about the oil pump, if it needs to be a complete unit from another vehicle or just the part that's different and change out. What vehicle to search for for it and distributor.

Brad
Sierra Vista Arizona
1954 Lincoln Capri

There are many choiuces and ways to do this and I'm sure others will chime in.   A Ford Y-block strib from 57-up with your old Lincoln Y gear should work. A Ford Y-block oil pump will fit but you will need to replace the oil pump drive shaft with a Lincoln hex drive shaft. I believe Ted provided the part number for that in another thread.  Adaptors are available to allow the use of a modern Holley 4 barrel.  Since you need a carburetor and distributor anyways and more than likely should replace the oil pump too, this may be the least expensive way to modernize your ignitipm and carburetor.  Hope this helps.................

64F100 57FAIRLANE500

I just found a distributor for a 59 t bird at Napa for 90. Would that one work for me?

Brad
Sierra Vista Arizona
1954 Lincoln Capri

Why does the oil pump need to be changed out? I didn't realize it has anything to do with the distributor or carb

Brad
Sierra Vista Arizona
1954 Lincoln Capri

I think a 59 bird is going to be an FE series block, different from a Ford or Lincoln Y block. I don’t know about the interchanges if any there. There’s also been some problems with Y block distributors rebuilt by Cardone (sp?). You need to be aware of those specifics before doing a NAPA deal.

The camshaft has a gear that drives the distributor. The Ford Y uses a different cam gear than the Lincoln cam, so you need to change the gear from your existing distributor. And check everything.

Since the oil pump is then driven off the distributor shaft (at the bottom, either a tang or hex style) the distributor the oil pump has to match the correct drive from the distributor. Make sense ?

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ

Ok, so the oil pump just gets changed out, not just the shaft.

Brad
Sierra Vista Arizona
1954 Lincoln Capri

Miker is correct - an FE distributor will not work, it's a different housing.  I have no experience with a 54 Lincoln Y-block but to my understanding,  someone please correct me if I'm wrong,  It uses the "tang" oil pump drive shaft as opposed to the hex drive shaft . Therefore, any DUAL ADVANCED distributor  (57/on) would be a hex 1/4" drive shaft and would require an oul pump to use the hex drive shaft.  Somewhere on another thread, Ted explained this and the way I interpreted it,  the Lincoln drive shaft is longer than the Ford drive shaft.   

64F100 57FAIRLANE500

If you decide  to go with the original Holly 4 bbl "teapot" carb. I have a good extra one which has been rebuilt that I am willing to sell.  It is off of a '54 Mercury but I think that the Lincoln used the same carb. as the Mercury.   If you go this route, I think that you could use any pre-'57 y-block distributor on your 317.    Someone correct me if I am wrong.   Send me a PM me if you are interested.

If upgrading to a 1955 or newer distributor, you will need the 1955 or newer oil pump along with the corresponding ¼” hex drive shaft.  The oil pump for the LYB is the same as the FYB but the oil pump drive shaft is specific to the LYB engine as it’s longer than the FYB oil shaft.  The Melling part number for that shaft is in a previous thread for which the link is listed below.

If upgrading to a ’57 and newer carburetor, you will need a ’57 or newer distributor.  If using the Holley 2140 or 4000 Teapot carb, then those carburetors can be modified to work with the ’57 and newer distributors.

If using a FYB distributor, you will need to use the LYB distributor gear on it.  The distributor for a ’59 Thunderbird is likely for a FE or M-E-L engine of which neither will work in a LYB engine.

Revisit these two older posts for more detail.  
http://forums.y-blocksforever.com/FindPost161445.aspx
http://forums.y-blocksforever.com/FindPost161471.aspx

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

The earlier post says msd 8383 distributor fits, what about regular stock distributor that doesn't cost $500? I don't want to come across as cheap but I have a lot more parts to get and can't afford to go top of the line. What are the numbers for stock distributor?

Brad
Sierra Vista Arizona
1954 Lincoln Capri