I have a '56 292 that was a 4bbl but now sports a '60 2bbl intake with a 214000 series carb.

I have the original intake and Holley 4000 I want to put back on eventually.

Now my question is my dist does not have a mechanical advance just vacuum as far as I can tell but it has a modern style single can advance. Was the single and dual can advance units bolt in on the same dist?

I want to order a electronic for it but not sure if all I'd have to do is get the dual can advance and swap it out or if a whole new dist has to be purchased.

 

The advance units are not interchangeable.

Remove the distributor cap. If you see the advance springs right on top of the breaker plate, it is the load-o-matic distributor which is correct for the original carburetor. If that distributor is installed, you must replace it with a '57 and up mechanical advance unit. This isn't really an either or decision. If you want it to run correctly, you need the newer distributor. You can find remanufactured units and if you want to spend the money, there are some aftermarket choices with mechanical advance, Mallory and MSD, which will already have electronic modules installed.

If you do not see the advance springs, then it should be a newer unit which is perfect.

 

Yes I know that. If I remember right when I put the points in there were two springs on top of the point plate.

But my question is about the vacuum advance cans. Mine currently has a single diaphragm can like I seen in advertisement for 2bbl cars. I am wanting to know if I can put the dual diaphragm in place for use with the 4bbl or if the load o magic dist were different internally from the 2bbl and 4bbl vacuum advance cans.

 

The problem is the carburetor. Pre-57 load-o-crapic distributors need to use the original carburetor. Most have upgraded to a 57 or later distributor and use whatever carburetor they want. Maybe you can cruft something together to emulate the original advance curve, but it's much easier to use a '57 or later distributor.

Wait. I thought pre '57 distributors were entirely vacuum advance, there wasn't any mechanical advance at all?

 

'56 and earlier are vacuum only. I don't know if there is a difference between the load-o-matic distributors for 2 barrel or 4 barrel.

 

Ok, my previous posts were done via phone so I was not able to go into great detail as I was at work.


I am asking about the vacuum canister. I currently have a '60 year model 2bbl intake manifold installed with a autolite/motorcraft 2100 carb. The distributor as far as I can tell is the original one to the car, it does have two springs on the breaker plate that is attached directly to the vacuum advance control arm.


Thing is though since the original Holley 4000 has a lower vacuum signal for the advance the vacuum advance can was replaced with a newer style single diaphragm. This will stay like this till I get further along in the restoration but I plan on putting the original manifold and holley 4000 carb back on this car. Thing is though when I look up the metal hard lines for the vacuum advance, for '56 they have a dual line and a single line setup. The dual line kit is for ones with a 4bbl carb and the single line kit is for those with the 2bbl carb.


What is on mine currently appears to be a 2bbl style vacuum advance. Im just curious if I were to purchase a rebuilt dual vacuum advance if it has the same mounting on the 2bbl as on the 4bbl.


After looking at photo it looks like they are the same and are interchangeable. But I want to make sure instead of going on the belief that they are the same cause they appear the same in a photo.


Just trying to save myself some headaches in the long run.