1956 electronic ignition 1 vacuum port distributor installation

[Gail 56 bird]

How do I install an electronic ignition 1 vacuum port distributor into a 1956 312 replacing a dual port vacuum advance distributor?

the electronic ignition distributor has a single port vacuum advance and the original 1956 distributor has a dual port vacuum advance - would like to know which vacuum should I use and which vacuum should I block off

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[jack-in-sac]

As I understand it; the '56 has two vacuum advances. the '56 through at least the sixties has a single vacuum port. I am not that familiar with '56 distributors. At one point I was told that the second vacuum was for a retard That seemed not quite believable but I have been wrong too many times to count. A single vacuum distributor would (again this is just a WAG} only require a vacuum from one port and that port would be like th e'57 and late. The second vacuum diaphragm vacuum source would be then plugged. In the past what experience I have had with '56 Yblocks was converting to a 4150 style carburetor required a matching single diaphragm distributor. Usually there is a reason for an oem piece of equipment. That design is an integrated plan. Now that the waters are muddied enough I suggest going back to your question: find what vacuum signal is required for a '57 and later distributor. Use that kind of source for your change. plug the other vacuum signal source. After you sort this problem You will still have the earlier "tea-pot" carburetor. At that point you may as well find a 4bbl manifold for a 4150 style carburetor and install it with the more modern style carbureator. There is limited support for for the tea-pot and the Holley custom shop no longer services them,
Most of all , have fun.

 

[55blacktie]

Gail, you haven't provided enough information. Did you replace the original 1956 distributor, or did you install the Pertronix 1 electronic conversion? Also, you haven't specified which carburetor you have? Is it the original Holley 4000 "Teapot" carburetor? If so, it can be modified to work with a 1957-up distributor.

By the way, I believe the 1956 distributor has two vacuum pots to increase the total vacuum advance, thereby somewhat compensating for the lack of centrifugal advance on the 1955-56 Loadomatic distributors. 1957-up distributors have both vacuum and centrifugal advance. Six-cylinder vehicles continued to use the Loadomatic distributor into the early sixties.

 

[Gail 56 bird]

Gail, you haven't provided enough information. Did you replace the original 1956 distributor, or did you install the Pertronix 1 electronic conversion? Also, you haven't specified which carburetor you have? Is it the original Holley 4000 "Teapot" carburetor? If so, it can be modified to work with a 1957-up distributor.

By the way, I believe the 1956 distributor has two vacuum pots to increase the total vacuum advance, thereby somewhat compensating for the lack of centrifugal advance on the 1955-56 Loadomatic distributors. 1957-up distributors have both vacuum and centrifugal advance. Six-cylinder vehicles continued to use the Loadomatic distributor into the early sixties.

I am replacing the original distributor, coil and plug wires, I am not replacing the 4000 teapot. The new distributor has 1 vacuum advance while the original distributor has 2.

 

[55blacktie]

Assuming you are talking about an aftermarket distributor/w centrifugal advance, you can go to eatonbalancing.com, click on "Quick Index," and you will find an article that explains how to modify the Holley 4000 Teapot carburetor to be compatible with 1957-up/aftermaket distributors that have both vacuum and centrifugal advance.

 

[Gail 56 bird]

Assuming you are talking about an aftermarket distributor/w centrifugal advance, you can go to eatonbalancing.com, click on "Quick Index," and you will find an article that explains how to modify the Holley 4000 Teapot carburetor to be compatible with 1957-up/aftermaket distributors that have both vacuum and centrifugal advance.

thank you, will check out

 

[Gail 56 bird]

thank you, will check out

 

[Gail 56 bird]

55 blacktie one item I did not see in article; what to do with the vacuum port at back of carb going to original distributor. I would surmise it is to be plugged off.

 

[paul5456]

55 blacktie one item I did not see in article; what to do with the vacuum port at back of carb going to original distributor. I would surmise it is to be plugged off.

That is correct

 

[doug7740]

I am not familiar with the dual port vacuum advance distributor that you are installing. Does it have a tach drive so you can connect the tachometer drive cable to it?

doug7740
1955 Thunderbird Blue

 

[doug7740]

Sorry, I meant to say that I am not familiar with the electronic ignition 1 vacuum port distributor that you are installing. Does it have a tach drive so you can connect the tachometer drive cable to it?

doug7740
1955 Thunderbird Blue

 

[Gail 56 bird]

Sorry, I meant to say that I am not familiar with the electronic ignition 1 vacuum port distributor that you are installing. Does it have a tach drive so you can connect the tachometer drive cable to it?

doug7740
1955 Thunderbird Blue

Yes

 

[rponfick]

Don't forget, if installing electronic distributor components (like Petronix), you don't need the resistor wired into the system. No need to lower distributor voltage, as required in point ignitions.
Ralph

 

[55blacktie]

Yes. Look at fig. 8 and reread the paragraph above it.

By the way, my car is undergoing a body-on restoration and hasn't been on the road since 2012. Although I am keeping all of the original parts, I will not be using the Teapot or original 1955 intake manifold.