Hello y block lovers!

I am presently shoehorning a y block into my 52 F6. It seems to be going OK so far, but I am baffled with the vacuum advance.

I don't know what distributor this is, but it does have a tach drive on it. I don't know what the numbers on the Holley Carb are, but it looks pretty ordinary to me. I need to know where to hookup the distributor vacuum line.

I am short on vacuum ports, so I drilled one in the plastic spacer so I could run a pcv hose. Otherwise, I have the mystery port (1/8 inch pipe threaded) on the front metering block, and the big one on the manifold to run the brakes, wipers, and 2 speed axle.

This engine was purchased sight unseen, and there were no vacuum lines on it when I received it. I understand about the ported vacuum a bit, as I have been reading my 52 Shop manual dutifully.

But this engine supposedly came out of a T bird, so the distributor setup is probably more modern than the Loadomatic deal, or is it? Thanks so much. I have posted pics in my Gallery for you detectives to look at!

Jamie

 

If you try to turn the rotor, will it rotate a few degrees, then spring back if you let it go? If so, then it's a later centrifugal distributor. If not, then you have the old load-0-matic.

So, assuming you have a later distributor, i find that the vacuum advance, if you decide to use it, it will work better off of whatever ports are on the carb. If you use manifold vacuum off the manifold itself, you may find that you don't like the idle because of the way the vacuum pulses in the manifold.

Do you have both ported and manifold vacuum ported on the carb? If you do then it's a matter of experimentation to find what works best for you. For my 292, it's 5-7 degrees initial advance, and the manifold vacuum (off the carb) adding another 10 degrees. Adjustable vacuum advances are available too.

Steve

 

I am just going to run my vacuum connection directly to the intake manifold on my 292.

It doesn't really matter. If you have a Load-o-matic it goes directly to the carb I think. I removed all that junk.

Just make sure that if there's a vacuum port on the carb and you're not going to use it, you might want to cap it.


This should work on most Y-block distributors.

Cheers,

Rick


Steve, you may be right! I did run my 292 on my 57 Ford Fairliane for many years with the vacuum connection directly on the manifold. Maybe it would have worked better coming from the carb. I never tried it.

 

I think it is springy when I touch it, so it would be the later one. I was just confused in some of my research that said the vacuum on a Ford worked just the opposite of others, that is why you needed the vacuum off of the special port. It supposedly has a lo vac at idle. But I will just plumb it up and see how it goes, and maybe measure some of the vacuums I encounter.

There are no vacuum ports on the carb, with the possible exception of the tapped hole on the front metering block.

 

Based upon the picture, with no springs visible and a later model vacuum unit, you do have a 57 and up distributor. What is the carburetor?

 

Its a 4 bbl Holley with Vacuum secondaries, I don't know where to find the numbers you would need on it. 57 and later, that sounds like a good thing!

Your handle, sounds like you have something in common with me....a y block where it is not supposed to be!

Pics of the carb can be found in my gallery, I have some problems with posting them in the forum, but will try!

Jamie

 

Your dist. vacuum tube would connect to the small nipple on the right hand base of the carb. That is ported vacuum so the vacuum advance is inactive at idle.

Yes the 46 has a 292. You can safely bet that it will go into your 52 a lot easier!

Question: What motor was in your truck originally?

 

Holley carb numbers are on the air horn where the choke is. They are preceded by the letters LIST.

e.g. LIST 1732

 

Itzaford that 1/8th in tapped hole in the metering block would be where your vacuum advance line would connect. That port is for ported vacuum which is correct for your engine and dizzy setup. That's a good lookin engine! Good luck with getting everything setup .


Have A Good Day---------Hotwrench

 

I believe it had a flathead v8 in it, originally. There are some torch marks and stuff from some PO. It had a late fifties 292 in it, that smoked a bit, and had some sludge/valve oiling issues. So I went and splurged for this engine that supposedly came out of a T bird "show car".

Up to that point, the truck was a pretty good investment. But I think I plunged head first off that cliff with the engine! It just seemed correct for me, it was probably common to pull out a flathead and put a Y in, in the late fifties/early sixties.

Of course, I went and put a new clutch assembly in while I had it pulled, as well. I am burning dollars faster than a night at the casino, lol!

 

Thanks Hotwrench! I just hope it runs as well as it looks, I am getting a little nervous about all the time and money I am dumping into this. It sure will be nice to hear it spring to life!

Pcmenten, I appreciate the info. I recall seeing list on there somewhere, so I will do some more research.

 

hey itzaford - sorry to hi-jack your thread but i have a relative question.

working on my '60 F250 the other day - (292 Y block) i noticed that theres a cap on a small tube coming from the passenger side of the stock holly 2bbl. i also noticed that the vacuum advance on the dist has a hose coming off that was just laying on the intake. curiosity got the best of me so i pulled the cap & hooked the vac line up to the carb. the truck will idle but stalls as soon as i touch the throttle. i checked the timing & it seems to be set at about 4* initial advance & it does advance when i rev it while that vacuum line is disconnected. i assume the dist also has weights for the centrifugal advance.

is this normal? what's going on with the tube just laying there?