what year distributors will work on the 239 y-block

 

54 Ford and Mercury only are directly interchangable. The 57 is supposed to be the best but it requires a different drive gear and some other work Im not sure of.
Unless you can find an old Mallory you got work to do!

 

I think any Y block distributor will work. The 1957 and later (up to early 60,s in pickup)is more desirable because it has mechanical advance. I may have one of the later ones I would sell.
darrellmed(No Email Addresses In Posts!)

 

It depends on what year 239 you have. The earliest 239's were made in Dearborn and used a 13 tooth gear on the cam to drive the distributor. If you have one of these then you will need to save your original distributor gear to install on a new distributor. If you have a later 239 it was built in Cleveland and uses the same cam and distributor as all other Y blocks. This change happened in the middle of the 1954 model year. Look for a casting mark of a CF indicating Cleveland Foundry on the side of the block. Distributors made from 1954 to 1956 used vacuum advance only. 1957 to 1964 distributors added mechanical advance and are much better.



rogerf100
1955 F100 239 Y block
1994 F150 Flareside

 

The way Ive read it elsewhere is that you have to put the 54 gear on the new dizzie, change to a 55 or later oil pump and pump drive rod.

 

That's right you would have to change the pump drive and oil pump to match the later style hex shaft.

rogerf100