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Distributor issue y block

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Old Aug 29, 2019 | 03:14 PM
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Distributor issue y block

Engine is a 272 Y block that has a later model distributor out of 92 Mustang 5.0 engine according to the numbers on the dist. E2AE-12131-DA. Someone put electronic ignitor in it, a Crane Cam type that required changing the base plate. The ignitor is bad I did not realize the base plate had been changed and ordered a Pertronic one that doesn't fit the base plate. What is the best way to handle this? Are there any later model dist. to use that fit up. Read that the lower housing is a possible issue about working with the drive rod to the oil pump because of length. Any help greatly appreciated...
Anyone tried those HEI replacement distributors on Ebay?
 
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Old Aug 29, 2019 | 03:49 PM
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The dimensions for any distributor are critical, the distributor gear height, needs to mesh with the cam gear properly, and also the machined pad the gear runs on in the y-block is used as a thrust surface, the distributor flange to the bottom of the distributor gear dimension is 4.991" - 4.996", even then, the shaft they often use in later Frankenstributors is a little too short to engage fully the hex oil pump drive rod. Throw it away, or get yer money back if you can.
 
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Old Aug 29, 2019 | 04:10 PM
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No money yet except for the ignitor I got that won't fit, the mustang dist is what was in the truck and running but the ignitor apparently went bad and Crane ignitors are no longer available. Got to deal with replacing the dist with something that will work. Will any y block dist from 57 to 64 work? I changed the truck to 12 volt so any 12 dist y block should work wouldn't it?
 
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Old Aug 29, 2019 | 04:34 PM
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Originally Posted by rio68
No money yet except for the ignitor I got that won't fit, the mustang dist is what was in the truck and running but the ignitor apparently went bad and Crane ignitors are no longer available. Got to deal with replacing the dist with something that will work. Will any y block dist from 57 to 64 work? I changed the truck to 12 volt so any 12 dist y block should work wouldn't it?
The crane XRi ignitors are now made by FAST.https://www.fuelairspark.com/ a division of Comp Cams It seems FAST had been having some reliability issues initially with the product once they started producing them, but this seems to have been rectified now. I would suggest if you do buy one make sure it is recent production and not a leftover early unit, but you can still find the Crane units from some vendors.. I personally always prefered the XRi over the petronix any way
 
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Old Aug 29, 2019 | 04:43 PM
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Old Aug 29, 2019 | 04:48 PM
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Originally Posted by rio68
Will any y block dist from 57 to 64 work? I changed the truck to 12 volt so any 12 dist y block should work wouldn't it?
Pretty much, make sure it has a hex drive.
 
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Old Aug 29, 2019 | 04:54 PM
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FBO Disributor

If I was set on dropping 500 bones on a Y-block distributor, I'd get one of these, not MSD:

 
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Old Aug 29, 2019 | 05:01 PM
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I have one of the early unilite 8383 full mechanical distributors in one of my y blocks. I installed it in 2004 and have never had the cap off
 
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Old Aug 29, 2019 | 05:43 PM
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Originally Posted by rio68
Engine is a 272 Y block that has a later model distributor out of 92 Mustang 5.0 engine according to the numbers on the dist. E2AE-12131-DA. Someone put electronic ignitor in it, a Crane Cam type that required changing the base plate. The ignitor is bad I did not realize the base plate had been changed and ordered a Pertronic one that doesn't fit the base plate. What is the best way to handle this? Are there any later model dist. to use that fit up. Read that the lower housing is a possible issue about working with the drive rod to the oil pump because of length. Any help greatly appreciated...
Anyone tried those HEI replacement distributors on Ebay?
How do you know this is a Mustang distributor? E2AE is the ID engineering number prefix for 1982 LTD 302. Mustang would be E2ZE

1956 was the first year that the 272 was available in trucks and all 1956 and later FoMoCo vehicles are 12V negative ground.
 
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Old Aug 29, 2019 | 06:16 PM
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Bill, the exact pedigree doesn't matter too much, the problem generally is the rebuilders are having trouble locating Y block distributor cores, so they were using SBF distributors and installing a 14 tooth distributor gear on the shaft and calling it good. They will fit and run, but the length and fit dimensions are not correct.
 
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Old Aug 29, 2019 | 07:04 PM
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I'm guilty of using the world renowned source of "ask google" and that's what it said when I ran the number...lol

Also the 500 for one is a little much for the budget...I need to be some less if at all possible, thks for the info have learned a bunch...
 

Last edited by rio68; Aug 29, 2019 at 07:08 PM. Reason: add'l info
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Old Aug 29, 2019 | 08:39 PM
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Yeah I wasn't real happy about it. The problem I had, paid a shop to do all that stuff a long time ago, and he didn't, so I got to do it all over again myself. Loosey goosey distributors are nothing but trouble. Then I come to find the replacement is no good. Out another $70 ... So maybe third time's a charm. Or is it the 4th, I rebuilt one for a spare, tough to keep up without a program. Whenever I've tried to "save money" it gets pretty damn expensive.

Keep your eyes peeled on fleabay, sometimes NOS will show up, service replacements, for a good price, maybe $100 or so. Snap it up, it won't last too long. Sometimes people will list parts wrong, they don't know what it is, once in a while it works in your favor. It was used in T-birds, just don't buy the LoadOmatic version. These were vacuum advance only. They look sort of similar but will not work right.
 
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