Distributor question

[fireguyfire]

The flathead out of my 1940 1/2 ton was seized and unusable so I found a 1942 flathead that I am going to drop into my truck.

My question is regarding the distributors; the original distributor on my 1940 engine has a vacuum advance pod on it; the distributor from the 1942 engine does not.

Im looking for suggestions on which distributor you guys would use in the 1942 engine if you had the choice; vacuum or no vacuum, and why.

I appreciate any opinions 

[Jim G]

I'd probably use the one with the vacuum advance, for no other reason than the original engine had it. I'm assuming because it is in a halfton they used a vacuum advance to give it a bit more 'zip' in acceleration. My 49 oneton does not have a vacuum advance but they weren't too concerned at how fast it could take off with a 100 bushels of wheat in it . . . 

 

Just my uneducated opinion

[fireguyfire]

Makes sense to me Jim; cheers

[kencombs]

2 hours ago, fireguyfire said:

Makes sense to me Jim; cheers

The vacuum advance will provide earlier timing under light loads on the highway.  That promotes lower engine temp and improved gas mileage.

[1949 Wraith]

Suck on the diaphram. There is a good chance that the vacuum is defective after all these years.

[fireguyfire]

It the diaphragm  broken, can they be rebuilt or replaced?

[Sniper]

16 hours ago, kencombs said:

The vacuum advance will provide earlier timing under light loads on the highway.  That promotes lower engine temp and improved gas mileage.

 

 

This is the reason ?

 

1 hour ago, fireguyfire said:

It the diaphragm  broken, can they be rebuilt or replaced?

 

There are people who can do this, I can't recall whom off hand though.  I have seen others mod a more commonly available, newer can to work. 

 

Link shows sources for rebuild/exchange source and how to mod a later can to work.

 

https://p15-d24.com/topic/31283-brand-new-vacuum-advance/page/2/

 

[FarmerJon]

Terril Machine in Texas will rebuild them. Nice guy, good clean work. Ran me around $85 for the one I just had him do. Took a couple months.

[Dodgeb4ya]

18 minutes ago, FarmerJon said:

Terril Machine in Texas will rebuild them. Nice guy, good clean work. Ran me around $85 for the one I just had him do. Took a couple months.

Did he re-crimp the can?

Does it look nice?

[FarmerJon]

Yes, he recrimps the can. Looks pretty good to me. He doesn't replate any of the parts, although if your unit is particularly rough, I would think something could be worked out.

[Dodgeb4ya]

Ok...that crimp looks ok!?

One I installed had a pretty rough looking crimp job making me somewhat leery though I know it will work fine.