Dumb question of the day: I’m a total novice but I now have a 29 hot rod with a 49 Mercury Flathead and a SCoT blower. It uses the shallow version of the 2-bolt Mallory distributor. The mechanic told me it wasn’t working that well. I had a spare and sent it to Bubba to be rebuilt and the thing is beautiful. So question is, can I just remove the old one and put the rebuilt one without having to do any of the things I read about timing and crankshaft? I understand how it fits, with a groove. But when I read about piston position I go all blank. Or leave it to my mechanic? Trying to learn to do the work but don’t want to mess up the engine. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Yes bolt it up and run it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO adjustment needed we do all that for you on our rebuilds........
If "Bubba" set it up, it's timed correctly. The best way to time these is using a machine like he has. Unless you try really hard, it is almost impossible to put one of these on wrong, because the tab is offset. It has been done, which usually results in a broken mounting ear. Since you say you are "trying to learn", be aware that this type of distributor did not originally come on a '49 Mercury engine; they used a more conventional "post" distributor. Who ever put this together must have changed the camshaft, cam and crank gears, and front engine cover to the earlier style. Given that this much of a change has been made to the engine, I believe you should at least talk to your mechanic (assuming that he is familiar with a setup such as this). I would do some research and checking on this before diving in.
So, maybe I had the wrong distributor rebuilt? The one in the car doesn’t have the vacuum brake unit and the electric cables just go into the distributor through a hole. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Are you sure that's a '49 Merc? Everything looks like an earlier engine to me. If you really are "trying to learn", few more pictures form a little more distance and as much information as you can supply will really help. There are a lot of knowledgeable guys on here, but we need to know what we're dealing with. Light hot rod or heavy sedan? It looks like you have a very advanced setup there, so you share all you know.
Thank you thank you thank you. Here’s more photos. We’ve inherited his car, belonged to my father in law but he’s got Alzheimer’s now. I read in a magazine article that it was a 49 Merc and in another one a 48. We have the car now and plan to keep (unless we have to sell to pay for his care) so trying to learn but not a car guy. Maybe a distributor is not a good start? It’s definitely an racing setup. He put this motor 10-12 years ago. Before he had one with 3 Carbs on top. More pics. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Whoa! That looks like a real "top-shelf" car. Who was your father-in-law? To build a car like that (and then go from tri-carbs to a S.C.O.T. with Weber's) is about as good as it gets! If I were you, I wouldn't touch a thing until I got somebody into look the entire car over. It even looks like it has a DuVall (or similar) windshield and Buick drums! That car may be a very valuable piece of hot rod history! It would be nice to know what part of the country you're in; it might help someone identify it. I think that car is worth a LOT more tha you may think.
We’re in New England. Yes, we aware that the car might potentially be worth a lot, and I don’t want to mess it up. I have a few people that are hot rod people I could call but trying to do it myself, but you might have a good point. It has a Lasalle Trans and the Hallibrand quick change on the back. Mag wheels that are apparently hard to find. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
A LaSalle transmission and a Halibrand! C'mon; some of you New England old-timer must know this car! I, for one, would like to know more about it.
Ha! I think the New England old timers are gonna hunt me down and kick my ass for touching this car. To be clear, I’m not trying to change anything about the car. The current distributor is not running that well so that’s why I had the other one rebuilt, but it seems the one in the car doesn’t have the vacuum advance unit like Bubbas and im not sure how to wire it of if it will fit. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I'd be willing to bet it's a pre-48 engine. With everything else that has been done, I wouldn't doubt it has a later Merc crank, though.
Your new distributor is a points style distributor, the giveaway is the condenser hanging off the side of it. The one on the engine is likely a mallory unilite electronic distributor with full centrifugal advance, negating the need for a vacuum brake. There is rewiring to be done if you want to run the points style.
Ohh. It starting to sound out of my league. Seems I either have my mechanic do it or get the old one rebuilt. Is points better than electronic? Or is that a discussion I shouldn’t even start? ;-) Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
It looks to me like a '49-'53 block as evidenced by the by pass water pumps and the bulge for them on the block. 59 AB heads. I have the early heads on a '52 block in my '40. However I do run the '49-'53 Mallory distributor. Not that much work to do the head switch. Lots of old school with some modern stuff like GM alternator and electric fan. Very cool car ya got there! Dave The temporary ugly horn is gone!
I don’t want to mess with the car. Just want to get it into a nice riding shape so we can take it out on weekends. We had the water pumps rebuilt last year. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Very cool. Horn doesn’t work in this car for some reason. Another thing to fix. It’s has the front water pumps that are engine mounts. Had a local speed shop rebuild them. They put the current distributor in but said it wasn’t performing well. I must’ve misunderstood about sending the other one to Bubba, since they’re not the same type. Thanks for the help. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Wow! That’s a really nice car. 1. Have fun with it. 2. try to find a street rod club in your area they should be able to connect you with a mechanic that’s knows what they are doing. Sent from my iPad using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
We are pretty lucky that he’s known around here so I have a garage I can take it to and a few hot rodders that have expressed their interest to help. I thought I could do some stuff myself but I think I’ll limit it to wax on/wax off. ;-) Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Wow, check out that wild intake system with the side draft Weber's. That's not something you see every day.
Yeah, he made that. It has a metal mesh inside to keep debris out. He was a custom metal fabricator. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Good news. My wife went to visit Helger Bros. in Little Compton and they’re a pretty known racing family and one of the guys has asked to work on the car to get running the way it should be. I’m gonna take that offer in the spring. But thank for all your comments , greatly appreciated. Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
After re reading my post I realized that It could be taken the wrong way. When I suggested you get a mechanic that knows what they’re doing I didn’t mean you don’t. Just suggesting you find someone to help and advise. Cheers! Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
No, thank you. I didn’t take it the wrong way. Just realizing I’m over my head and last thing I want to do is some kind of expensive damage. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
FYI, this is pure Hot Rod Porn, your pictures may be cautiously edited or blurred out when you post, something like that. Just kidding, really cool setup. Looks like your caring for a real hot rod treasure. & hopefully his friends are willing to help keep it running for him, & you. Sent from my SM-G955U using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
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