NO spark advance????

[Jerome Lowery]

Old Slickcraft. Ford 302 V8. 188 hp. Was looking at the distributor to change the old points and condense to electronic ignition with a pertronix conversion. While trying to take a peek under the distributor cap, I couldn't see any advance mechanisms. The point plate is nothing but rust covered. Questions. Is this an old school Ford 302 distributor? Do they use a special marine distributor? Do they have a type of advance, i.e. mechanical? There is NO vacuum advance on it. Wondering if we can get the conversion to fit and work. At 73, I can't flex much anymore to get down in there. I am considering pulling the distributor to make it easier. I actually had a dual point distributor in my hotrod until I converted to electronic. I did this when I went to my favorite parts store and asked my buddy for two sets of points for a 289 hypo distributor, and he laughed and said they didn't stock them anymore and would have to order them. Converted to electronic an had absolutely NO problems.
Any input will be appreciated.
Thank you.
Jerome.

 

[Rick Stephens]

Would have a mechanical advance built underneath the points plate. If all rusted needs cleaning up to work. Sounds like disassembly time.

Rick

 

[Jerome Lowery]

Thanks Rick. I agree. A little TLC never hurts.

 

[bruceb58]

I would consider buying a new distributor. Grab the shaft and see how much play there is.

 

[Scott Danforth]

a new marine dizzy for a ford is about $300

marine motors are not like car motors, they are an industrial motor under load all the time. there is never an unloaded point where the motor would need additional advance so there is no vacuum advance. not to mention, with the motor always loaded, there is almost no vacuum.

there are advance weights and springs unter the points plate

if everything is rusted up, may be less costly to replace than rebuild.