distributor question

[67mustang306]

I just ponied out some cash to buy a new engine for my 67. I got a 302 and the mech said I can't use my old distributor( because the new cam is a roller cam and it will chew up the gear on my old cam within 1000 miles and kill the motor and he said I have to get a 85 carbed 5 speed dist. Can I just use a mallory or MSD? I have no knowledge of distr. gears. he said I needed to change to the 85 dist because it has steel gear and I need that strength. Opinions, Ideas? Should I do this, where could I get a decent one for cheap or is he just trying to get me to pony up some more cash....



After the amount of restoration I have done on this car, I now understand where the phrase Pony Up comes from when refering to spending money... But as long as I'm spending it on my baby, I'm fine with that...

 

[mfp4073]

You can use any distributor you want...just have to change the drive gear on it out to match the cam.

 

[66P51GT]

Do you have an early 302 or a late model 5.0. If you have the latter with a roller cam, you can get the Steel distributor gear you need from Summit for $59. I know - expensive!

 

[D.Hearne]

Do you have an early 302 or a late model 5.0. If you have the latter with a roller cam, you can get the Steel distributor gear you need from Summit for $59. I know - expensive!

But still cheaper than a new distributor I'm running an early model points distributor in a late model ( 90's 5.0) with a roller cam. Of course I changed the dist gear to a steel one from Summit Racing . It's a Ford Racing part, but I don't recall offhand the #. This is the second one I've swapped the gear on. Your mechanic was only half wrong. There are two sizes for the cam gear, the one you need is ( I believe ) .467 inside diameter. The instructions to swap them comes with the gear. Just follow the directions and you can do it yourself.