Hey KULTULZ your reply came to Greece! I wish I'll get it working with such smaller problems 😅

Ted yes, for timing I use a timing light and yes the mark moves when I rev it

If you see the timing mark advance with the timing light, the advance should be good.

If you put a vacuum signal on the vacuum advance canister (with a hand held vacuum pump or mouth suction), does the breaker plate advance and return (after releasing vacuum) easily and does the vacuum canister hold vacuum?

If that low of mileage, the DIST advance may be hanging but not totally dysfunctional.

Exactly what is (are) the drive-ability concern(s)?

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Ok, there is a. 'In 1 cart" note on it, so I took my chances and bought it..... Hope this time it works out good, and yes, I won't touch the pivots😛 I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

KULTULZ am I given in my ignorance another chance?

I have already seen this listing https://ebay.us/m/8MK0dF but made nothing of it because it is not a Ford one. Now with your endless expertise you wrote that Holley made them for Mercury!

The description is "NOS 1954 Mercury car HOLLEY DISTRIBUTOR Model# 1275-S part# R-844-1AS

Well, No.1 is that you are not ignorant. 

The problem is that you have come across a CHERRY 54 MERC and of course where you are located makes it even more difficult for you to find advice, parts and service.

HOLLEY made for FORD-LINC-MERC as well as FORD TRUCK. They also made for others like INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER.

The DIST shown (HOLLEY) is not a FORD ISSUE, it is a type of service replacement (similar to aftermarket service parts of the period). A FOMOCO specific DIST will be ID'd by the two TAG/DIST BOWL examples already discussed.

HOLLEY also made in his period a series named ROTO-VANCE (both vacuum and centrifugal advance) which was a HP offering and frequently used to replace the LOM DIST.

You have the correct DIST on the car.

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Kultulz, thanks for that information.  I never knew there were two different 239/256 series, I thought they were all the same.

You are more than welcome. Just one 256CI SERIES as it was a CLV (CF) engine (as far as I know). The 256-4V was also used in the 1954 FORD as a police engine. That engine is not cataloged in the 1949/1959 FORD MPC. Most likely cataloged in a SPECIAL POLICE CATALOG. 

It gets even more confusing with the gradual transition of the truck 256CI to the 272CI (1955-56).

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HOLLEY was the vendor for FORD IGN and FUEL for that period. It may be the tagged ones were issued at the CLEVELAND PLANT and the bowl ID was issued at the DEARBORN PLANT.

The DIST tagged FAE-12127-C is the correct DIST for your engine (CLEVELAND ENGINE - CF).

KULTULZ am I given in my ignorance another chance? I have already seen this listing https://ebay.us/m/8MK0dF but made nothing of it because it is not a Ford one. Now with your endless expertise you wrote that Holley made them for Mercury!
The description is "NOS 1954 Mercury car HOLLEY DISTRIBUTOR Model# 1275-S part# R-844-1AS This is a bid for a new old stock distributor for a '54 Merc made by the Holley
Carburetor Co.It has a 14-tooth gear, and includes the points & condenser.
The original box is included but it is very poor. Part NumberA414 "
The seller has 100% feedback and on the sNOS box it's written For 54 Mercury!!! I've asked him just now if he can tell if it has ever been used

What do you say, shall I go for it? I have not yet tried tuning the one on the car.

I'm probably wrong but could I have a 100% original solution if I build the one you wrote that came with the car, with the ''innards" of this Holley? Ok maybe I'm again beng daft?

Kultulz, thanks for that information.  I never knew there were two different 239/256 series, I thought they were all the same.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

It most certainly is possible to improve performance with a LOM install, but the subject was SERVICE REPAIR, not SERVICE UPGRADE or MODIFICATION. The OP wants the car to run correctly in it's original assembly 



No need for a restoration. Did you see the under hood shot(s)? Which method is going to result in a more valuable car, the OEM system(s) or a resto-mod?

THANX! for finally coming to your point.

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Back on page 6 Aris said he took the 13 tooth gear off his NOS distributor and put the 14 tooth gear on.  I thought 239s and 256s had 13 tooth gears, '55 and later engines had 14 tooth.  If the distributor he took out of the engine  had 14 teeth, then he doesn't have a '54 engine.  Or a '55 or later camshaft has been installed, which is not a direct fit in '54 engines. 

There were two 1954 FYB engine series -

- the DEARBORN built 239CI which was the EBU BIG CAM ENGINE and had the 13T cam drive.

- the CLEVELAND built 239-256CI which were the SMALL CAM ENGINE(s) (EBV and EBY respectfully) and required     the 14T cam drive.

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Back on page 6 Aris said he took the 13 tooth gear off his NOS distributor and put the 14 tooth gear on.  I thought 239s and 256s had 13 tooth gears, '55 and later engines had 14 tooth.  If the distributor he took out of the engine  had 14 teeth, then he doesn't have a '54 engine.  Or a '55 or later camshaft has been installed, which is not a direct fit in '54 engines.  Maybe someone has put a '55 or later short block in his car.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"