I believe the Autolite distributor in my photo is from a '59 engine - I had two and one is now in the GREENBIRD. I modified it by using the point plate out of a post '76 Duraspark II (Motorcraft) so it could use the Ford electronic trigger. The Duraspark II uses the curved leg vacuum pot - and it all fits right in there as long as you are using a matching point (or stator) plate. The two tapped holes and vacuum pot mounts are in the same relative positions on the Autolite and Motorcraft bodies - and the Motorcraft point and electronic units both accept the same (curved leg) vacuum pots.

When I build the electronic versions, I cut the cam off the Autolite upper rotor shaft and machine it for the reluctor/armature of the later distributor. Once you have the trigger in the case (with mechanical and vacuum advance)- all sorts of ignitions can be used ........ different story.

 
 Steve Metzger       Tucson, Arizona

Now Dang it!!! Your trying to make too much sense.

"The Master Cylinder"

Enjoying life at the beach in SOCAL

My 57 dizzy is FoMoCo, the windsor is autolite.



South Australia

OK I see them now. Thank you. One of the screws has the ground wire hiding the brackets. Yeah, I've come to the conclusion the the Pert III won't fit. Unfortunately I have been running a Pert III. I don't want to have to buy a Pert II to replace it.

I'm now torn if I should send this distributor back because the reman. newer ones are not available.

"The Master Cylinder"

Enjoying life at the beach in SOCAL

I now have in my collection; a new pert1 for a 56 distributor (didn't check what type i had before i ordered), a pert1 for the 57 dizzy that is on it, and a new pert3 that wont fit. And now i need a pert2. This is getting expensive...


South Australia

I now have in my collection; a new pert1 for a 56 distributor (didn't check what type i had before i ordered), a pert1 for the 57 dizzy that is on it, and a new pert3 that wont fit. And now i need a pert2. This is getting expensive...


South Australia

I should elaborate more on what I said earlier about the Duraspark distributor. A Duraspark distributor is a Motorcraft. Most small block and big block are Motorcraft. Some Y-Block distrributors are Motorcraft. Where Motorcraft distributors are concerned, I believe it is only the shaft and gear that is different.
Swapping from Autolite to Motorcraft, or maybe even some Autolite to Autolite will involve a lot more because many of the parts are different and when it gets down to it, may not even be worth the attempt when MSD and Mallory make distributors.


Lawrenceville, GA

There are two screws in the side of the body that hold small brackets that hold the plate down. Remove these and you can lever the plate off (gently). The pert3 will not fit the bearing type dizzy, refer to the pics i posted earlier.


South Australia

Or you could use the Pertronix II which also just replaces the points and condenser but mounts to the advance plate. The Pertronix III replaces the whole plate.

"The Master Cylinder"

Enjoying life at the beach in SOCAL

I don't think I explained myself correctly. The distributor I'm looking at is the "bearing type early '57. The Pertronix III replaces the whole upper plate that the points and condenser screw to. I called it the points plate but others called it the advance plate, which makes more sense.

How do you get the advance plate out? It turns so it can't be screwed down. I am obviously missing something.

"The Master Cylinder"

Enjoying life at the beach in SOCAL