My Dad just left me a message that he needs a Lucas distributor for his 59ab so he can convert it to pertronix. Ok, what is he talking about?
There were Lucas distributors for flatheads made in England. I believe they were postwar, used on pilots, which had 21 stud 1937 type flatheads into the early 1950's. I believe they came in two lengths... Don't know what other applications. I think they were dual point and had vac brakes, and were made so the whole distributor had to be rotated to change timing. They were sold here long ago as speed equipment, and are expensive oddities when they appear.
They where indeed used in british Ford Pilots, but don't have a vac brake. They have full mechanical advance and have the early 3bolt camcover pattern. I used several in 2x2 set ups with no problems. I think if you want to go high rev, you need to play a little with the weights and springs. I happend to have some radiator and fan clearence problems in AV8 deals with them, because of the lenght of the dizzy. Nothing major.
Why is it they drink warm beer in England, Lucas makes refriderators of course...............sorry couldn't resist..........Lucas electrics the only bike I owned that I would have to check to see if the head light was working with a flashlight.
I believe they were used in '49-53 Ford Pilot & Thames Trader - I've been half-heartedly keeping an eye out for one over here, but haven't seen any yet... There is also a Lucas magneto used on stationary flatheads. I've got one of those, but the cap is mangled. I hear they have no advance in them at all - I should take it apart & investigate...
Sounds like it's a specialty type deal. Someone told him that is what he needs to use a Pertronix. Seems fishy. Is anyone here running Pertronix in a flathead?
He might be right on an early flat... I don't know if they make a conversion for the ford front mount dizzys?
There are quite a few variations on the Lucas dissy. Most are 3 bolt fitting not 2 bolt like a 59A. Some have a Vacuum unit most don't. Some have 4 lobes for the points and some have 8. They are quite deep and can cause fan and pulley clearance issues on a rod. Look out for cracks in the caps. I didn't realise they were worth anything over there I have 2 or 3 (But run a Mallory with a pertronix in my rod the lucas is to deep) They can still be found in England for £25 - £60. Had one rebuilt at a specialist over here for about £60 last year. Rich
I always feel odd when the Lucas discussions start. Several bikes and 2 cars with Lucas,,and never any electrical issues.
Just bringing this back to the top since there was discussion in 2019 about flathead Lucas distributors. I've got one that I know nil about and would like to learn. Gotta keep the info alive.
Range Rover had the reputation of being tough are except for electoral which were Lucas. After working on Ford tractors when I hear the name Lucas I want to run. How I will tell how I really feel
I take it that you have seen this thread https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/lucas-flathead-distributors.1172792/
I can mostly agree with the above. I have had a bunch of Triumph TR-3's and Spitfires. Also a few English bikes. I seldom had problems. The problems I did have were usually ground issues, or somebody else was working on it before I got there. But I still enjoy a good Lucas joke!
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