All Small Six 1960 to 1967 Ford 144, 170, & 200 Six'es With a LOM, How to Install a better Distribitor

This relates to all small sixes
Status
Not open for further replies.

bubba22349

Top Poster
VIP
Supporter 2021
Supporter 2019
Departed Member
This is going to be an ongoing sticky as I have time to work on it so it will be edited so check back for the updates. :nod:

First off a stock Load O Matic (LOM) Distributor also needs to have a compatible or matching Carburetor to work correctly. There are several like the Holley 1904 & 1908, Autolite 1100 1101, and some of the 1940 Holley replacement carb's. This system is simple and works quite well when everything is maintained, it's suitable for a totally stock early engine and for those that want to keep their cars or trucks all original. See below link for more info on the parts needed as well as how a LOM system works.

How Fords Stock Load O Matic Advance System Works
ci/Loadomatic.html

How to make a replacement for a damaged or missing vacuum line for the Holley 1904 and Autolite 1100. The Holley and some other Carb's that Ford used has a threaded port that the Vacuum line screws into. On these carb's a steel line is used with a compression type fitting, these fittings are the same as is used on a natural gas water heater pilot light. This is the compression fitting that fits the threaded hole in the Holley carb (see in link below). They should be available at many hardware stores or your local Auto parts or NAPA dealer too.

https://www.supplyhouse.com/Honeywell-3 ... 13870000-p

This above fitting are made for use with a 1/4 inch Steel or you could use a Aluminum line if you don't care about its originality, stock the Ford's & Mercury's used a steel line. If you have the old vacuum line for use as a pattern you can use a tubing bender or by bend the line hand to match the original bends in the old line. If you don't have a pattern you will have to free form fit it to your engine. To install thread the compression fitting into the Vacuum Port and but leave it somewhat loose next push the 1/4 inch line into the compression fitting until it bottoms out then you tighten up the compression fitting. On many of the the LOM Distributors the same compression fitting is used to connect to the stock vacuum canister so you may need to get two for a stock system. If you are going to use or already have a later Distributor then run the line down near the Distributor Advance canister and use a short piece of rubber hose to connect the Vacuum line to the Vacuum Advance. On some other carb's Ford used a flare fitting for the vacuum line connection into the carb in these cases a brake line of the right size can work or if you have use of a flaring tool you can also make a new line from scratch.

Mod's to the LOM

There are a few things that can be done to make the LOM system work a little better its a good system for a stock engine or where you need or want to keep it all original as in a Restoration project. First make sure the vacuum canister and the carb's SCV are in good working order. The MoPar electronic control box can be added for a hotter spark and better running and the points will last practically forever. The Pertonix Ignitor unit with a better (Hotter) coil too, is another way to eliminate the old points for a little less Maintaince and better running.

Next weather you use a venture vacuum or a ported vacuum source under power the engines vacuum is going to drop and with that the vacuum controlled advance of the LOM, this is just the opposite of what is needed for a higher performance application. It's also why the later model Ford engines from some 1966 Calif. Emission models and all of them by 1968 the Ford Six engines used a distributor with both a mechanical advance for better power / performance and a vacuum advance system for best economy. This is the real drawback in the operation of the LOM's advance system and therefore it isn't very good for use in any type of a Hi Performance engine build up. So in my opinion a LOM should only be used for a totally stock restoration, since there are much better units available for a performance build up and you will then need to ditch the LOM to get a better Distributor with a mechanical advance. This was also a first step mod even back when these engines were still relatively new. Back then there were dual point distributor's with mechanical advance only (by Mallory, Accel, etc.) to solve this problem and sometimes you can still find these Mallory (or some of the others) duel points distributors used or even NOS. Today there are even better choices like Fords electronic DuraSpark I & II, or the HEI types, and the even a Robert Bosh unit from Australia.

1/4 inch Distributor swaps

Thanks to site Member "Aussie7Mains" for recently posted a link for the Bosh Electronic Distributor that were available over in Australia, that's was according to some a simple drop in up grade for the 1960 to 1964 early engines (144, 170, & 200 Six's) with a Load O Matic. It also uses the 5/16 Inch Oil Pump Hex Drive a near perfect solution just by adding in a 1965 Oil Pump and you would be good to go. However some say that they also have the Larger Polit End on the Distributors such as Our 1965 up engines.

The Robert Bosch Distributor Ford 6 250 2V Pursuit 6cyl Electronic Distributor Caps are Available in Black or Blue

this unit will suit all pre-cross flow type motors 144-170-188-200-221-250 ci engines

https://dsmmotorsport.com.au/collec...-6-250-2v-pursuit-6cyl-electronic-distributor

this unit will suit all pre-cross flow type motors 188-200-221-250 ci engines

https://dsmmotorsport.com.au/collec...-250-2v-pursuit-6cyl-electronic-distributor-1

this unit will suit all pre-cross flow type motors 188-200-221-250 ci engines

https://dsmmotorsport.com.au/collec...-pursuit-6cyl-electronic-distributor-up-grade

Swapping out the LOM Distributors for a newer Model
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=77360&p=595417&hilit=1%2F4+inch+Distribitor+swap#p595407

This swap has already been done by a number of the site members so it's not just a theory it's done with basic machine shop practices. I don't know how hard it is to find a competent machinist in your locale area though, but I was doing this type machine shop work in the mid 1960's back in high school, so it's not all that hard to do.

A new Melling M 65 5/16 inch drive oil pump that also comes with a new 5/16 inch oil pump drive shaft is about $75.00 this is usually a normal replacement item anyway during a engine rebuild, a rebuilt DuraSpark II can range from $50.00 to $90.00. I used to source a complete used DSII system in good useable condition (distributor, plug wires, coil, wire harness, ICM) from the local Pick A Part cheap $25.00 to $35.00. You could get a calibrated DSII for about $230.00 but you should contact Bill "WsaIII" direct to verify what the current cost is.

Also it is a fact that the Australian Ford small sixes for many years used a hybrid distributor that was a combo of the early 1/4 inch drive distributor block hole, with the ID shaft size that used a 5/16 inch hex drive broached socket in the distributor shaft plus the M 65 type oil pump with the 5/16 inch oil pump drive shaft. This would be the least amount of work with no machining required to your early block.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=79617

For an engine that's going to be apart for rebuilding anyway I think this idea of the OP is excellent (see below link) and having a little back ground in machining in my OPIN it should be a fairly easy job.

Machining the early 144, 1960 to 1964, the 170's 1961 to 1965, or a 1963 1/2 to 1964 200 Block's to fit the Later Model Distribitors
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=58847&p=451517&hilit=Machine+early+block+for+late+distributor&sid=12bab989e4f98bd14c26b79acaffa0c2#p451493

DUI or HEI Clones
The DUI Distributors makes special 1/4 inch drive distributor for "Vintage Inlines" this is an easy drop in swap for the 1960 to 1964 144, the 1961 to 1964 170, and the 1963 1/2 to 1964 1/2 200 Six's. There one main thing that can make this distributor unusable first is if you have a factory power steering system or plan on adding one in the future then the DUI or also the many budget HEI clones being made are too tall to clear the engine mounted power steering pump.

Some other drawbacks to the DUI unit and the cheap HEI Clones in my OPIN is stated very well in this Quote by site member " pmuller9 "

"First; It is way to expensive.

Second; The HEI including the DUI are not ideal for the Ford 300 six or any other engine that spends most of it's time operating at low rpm.
At low rpm the dwell time is very long and HEI module spends the majority of it's time in current regulation mode and the coil spends a long time in saturation.
The wasted energy during this period has to be dissipated in the form of heat so both the module and the coil run hot decreasing spark energy and shortening both module and coil life.
At high rpm the dwell time is short enough to keep the module out of current regulation and the coil out of saturation. Life is good again but the 300 six doesn't live at that rpm level.

A Capacitive discharge system like the MSD does not involve charging a coil to saturation so the current to the coil is not restricted and the spark current is many times more than the conventional inductive discharge system.
Capacitive discharge is better suited for low rpm work especially since MSD provides multiple sparks for most of the operation rpm range of the 300 six."

I happen to agree with all these above statements by pmuller9 he made about using them in the 240 or 300 big Ford Six's and I believe that these same reasons will also apply to their use in the Ford small block Six's i.e. the 1960 to 1964 144, 170, 200 with the early 1/4 inch drive oil pumps as well as the 1965 up 170, 200, & 250 Six's with a 5/16 inch drive oil pump.

The 1965 to 1967 170 and the 1965 to 1967 200 engines with a Load O Matic Distributor.
With these engine blocks a later Distributor is no brainier being a direct or drop in swap! All the USA blocks made in 1965 and up will have the improved factory machining to fit a better later model Duel Advance Point, DuraSpark, HEI, DUI, or most other common aftermarket Distributors and they use the 5/16 oil pump drive shafts.

And Last A New Tech Solution That Lets You Keep Your Old LOM & Turn It Into A Modern Functioning Distributor

I also remembered to add this post about the new Tech way you could do this using your old LOM Distributor. The distributor advance gets locked out and you use the CB Performance Black Box that you can program the timing cruve into. Quick and easy to install then conect up your lap top and start programming.

CB Performance Black Box

Using A Later Model Carburetor with Your Better Distributor
Now that you have swapped to a better distributor with Vacuum and Mechanical Advance, you will also need to have a matching compatible Carburetor without a SCV to work with it. There are several you can use such as the later model 1V's carb's like was on the 1968 200 or 1969 200 or 250 engine an "Autolite 1101", or the Cater YFA or RBS, some of the Holley 1940's without SCV, several Weber 2V's, Holley 5200 (Weber 32/36), 2V Autolite / Motorcraft used on the 289 / 302 V8, or a Holley 350 or 500 and lots of others. You can also convert your current SCV Carb (Holley 1904 1908, Autolite 1100 or 1101, to a ported Vacuum source too. To learn how to Mod an Autolite 1100 check out the excellent posted below "Drop A Load".

Article "Drop A Load" posted by Wsa111,
https://www.fordsix.com/viewtopic.php?f=99&t=76821

Ported Distributor Vacuum vs Manifold Vacuum
The truth is both ways can work and ultimately its your choice as to what works best for you. The reason I like and recommend a ported Distributor vacuum over direct manifold vacuum is how the car operates when the car is idling so let's look at pro's and cons of the two ways that it will work.

1. With the ported distritor vacuum at idle rpm there isn't any vacuum advance so you engine only uses the base ignition timing and the idle rpm remains lower. This is great for an automatic trans car with less wear and tear on the trans and driveline parts when you put it in gear or you are waiting at a stop light etc.

2. With the manifold vacuum hooked to the distributor vacuum advance you have the very high manifold vacuum that then advances the Distributor timing and along with it raises your idle rpm much higher. With a stick (standard) type trans this isn't as much of a problem however you will still get some drivability issues and it takes some tuning workarounds to get it to function decently. This is why I don't recommend it to most people for a street driven car, or a beginner to the car hobby as often they aren't going to know what's needed to make it run well.

Other SCV carb's can be modded for ported Vacuum too and if you should want to have these Mod's done for you then contact Wsa111 about his services, or you can PM me for help.

By the way Champion Carburetors has a new replacement carb this is an updated copy of the Holley 1904 that can also be used to replace a 1908, the Holley 1940 or an Autolite 1100. these are brand new carb's that don't have the SCV on them but they can be used both for a stock LOD system or a newer Distributor (see below link) also you can check with Vintage Inlines for this carb.

The New Champion Carburetor Replacement for the Holley 1904 / 1908
http://www.championcarburetor.com/1961- ... 10770.html

There has also been a couple new bolt on EFI Systems by Holley the Sniper 1100 1V that bolts right on to the Ford stock small block Log Heads.


There is also their 2V version the Sniper 2300 for those putting out more power.


Hope this has been of some help for those of you that are using these early engines. If you have any other questions about this you can make a post or drop me a PM. Good luck in your Performance goals. (y) :nod:
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top