This morning I went to the local pull-a-part and cleaned them out of slant six distributors. I got one off of a 76 Aspen wagon, a 73 Valiant sedan, and an early 60s Dodge? b-body sedan (the front clip was gone as were all the badges).

I brought them all home, cleaned them up, and dissected them. Here are the results:

Distributor 1
source: 1976 Aspen wagon- one-barrel, base timing 2 BTDC
distributor tag number: 3874598
Vacuum advance: 8.5R, factory settings vacuum starts at 7, all in by 14
governor: 13R

Springs:


Distributor 2
source: 1973 Valiant sedan- a/c, p/b, one-barrel, base timing ???
Distributor tag number: 3755042
Vacuum advance: 8.5R, factory settings start at 7, all in by 14
governor: 15L

Springs:

The heavy spring is so long it almost touches the body of the distributor, but doesn't.

Distributor 3
source: mystery early 60s mopar sedan, no options, base timing???
Distributor tag number: 2444254
Vacum advance: 6.5X, pod didn't hold a vacuum
Governor: 11.5

springs:

This is a very nice distributor. The springs actually fit over little towers that have a "T" on the end to hold the springs on. Also, the distributor has a cute little oiler on the side for the bearings! How cool is that!



In addition to these distributors, I have the parts I mentioned above (9R governor, various springs, vacuum can that comes in above 10, and a VC-208 vacuum can).

So here's my question: which one of these, or what combination of parts would work best in the motor in my brother's van? Right now I am going to try the stock 76 aspen distributor since the motor in the van is a 76 and since the van weighs about the same as the aspen wagon (roughly 3000 pounds). I will try it with the base timing at 2 and go from there.

However, I am very open to suggestions about what parts to mix and match to get better gas mileage and performance. I also plan on mapping the mechanical advance curve for each of these distributors before i start swapping the guts around. I just need to figure out how to put EI guts into the early 60s points distributor...

Thanks in advance for what I know will be valuable tips.

76 Aspen distributor mechanical advance curve:
Factory base timing = 2BTDC

500 RPM = 2BTDC
750 RPM = 8 BTDC
1000 RPM = 15 BTDC
1400 RPM = 20 BTDC
1850 RPM = 20 BTDC starting to get twitchy, +/- 1 degree
2100 RPM = same as 1850
2400 RPM = same as 1850

My under-hood tach runs out at 2500 RPM on the 6 cylinder scale.

Looks to me like this distributor relies on vacuum advance to get the final ten degrees or so of advance.

P.S. A quick test drive tells me that this distributor feels pretty good in the van. Decent acceleration, smooth idle, no pinging. Next up is the Valiant distributor.

73 Valiant mechanical distributor curve test
Factory base timing = TDC

600 RPM = TDC
750 RPM = TDC
800 RPM = 2BTDC
900 RPM = 8BTDC
1100 RPM = 11BTDC
1350 RPM = 20BTDC
1500 RPM = 22BTDC
1550RPM+ = 22BTDC



So adjusting for the difference in base timing, it looks like the Aspen mechanical advance curve comes in earlier and advances less, and the Valiant curve comes in a smidge later and advances more. I think I am going to stick with the Valiant distributor right now in the van and see how it does.

I decided to go with the stock distributor for the 73 Valiant but bump the base timing up 7 degrees. This should get my brother about in the ballpark. I'm not going to kill myself over this because he still might end up selling the van and all my work will have been for naught.

Thanks for the help!

Set '73 dizzy base timing to 8 BTDC and let it ride...

The '76 would be better saved for that whaleback project you are dreaming up...

-D.Idiot

Whaleback project?

Now I got a bunch of extra distributors and no motor that can use them....

WOW! I just took the van back to my brother so I got to do a long (40+ mile) highway trip. All I can say is WOW! Plenty of power AND I estimate the highway gas mileage at 20-21 MPG! That's right, 20 MPG from a slant in a VAN!

THANK YOU to everyone who has contributed advice and parts! I couldn't have done it without you. This place and its members are the BEST!

1964-1966 Barracuda....




-D.Idiot

Heh, if only I had the space, time and money!