Vacuum Advance Eliminator/Lockout Plate

[rockhouse66]

Is anyone aware of a commercially available vacuum advance eliminator for Autolite/Motorcraft FE distributors?  I see ones that say HEI, but since I have never owned a HEI distributor I am not aware of the differences so don't know what "fits".  Proform makes one that looks like it might work.

[rockhouse66]

While I would still like to know if there is a commercially available solution, I have decided to just pin the breaker plate.  I fab'd up a little metal piece to screw on where the vacuum advance goes and hide/cover the hole in the distributor body.

[thatdarncat]

Ford used to sell the plate for the mechanical advance dual point distributors individually. They were sold well into the ‘80’s at least, so they’re not overly rare as a NOS part. I took a quick look on eBay and didn’t see any right now, but one of the advertisers here on the FE Power forum had some a while back, you might want to try and see if he has any left. You can do a google search with the Ford part number C0AF-12152-A, that turns up some hits too. Here’s a link to the ad here:

http://fepower.net/simplemachinesforum/index.php?topic=4452.0

[rockhouse66]

I'm not trying to convert to dual points, just remove the vacuum advance unit and run the distributor on mechanical advance only.  And trying to make it neat and tidy after removal of the vacuum advance.  I suppose one could machine off the lugs and make a cover plate for the hole, but I want something that can be reversed if needed.

[thatdarncat]

I'm not trying to convert to dual points, just remove the vacuum advance unit and run the distributor on mechanical advance only.  And trying to make it neat and tidy after removal of the vacuum advance.  I suppose one could machine off the lugs and make a cover plate for the hole, but I want something that can be reversed if needed.

I know, it’s just that the plate for the dual points is just a plain plate with no pivot since there was no vacuum advance used. You wouldn’t have to use the dual points. It was just a thought for an easy conversion.

[rockhouse66]

Good point.  I wasn't seeing the big picture.

[babybolt]

I sold all my spare dual point plates.  Unless I find more this winter while looking through more boxes of stuff.

[Falcon67]

I just drill and bolt mine down, remove the weights.  No need for a kit. 

[cjshaker]

I just drill and bolt mine down, remove the weights.  No need for a kit.

Weight reduction is always good for performance 

[Falcon67]

Weight reduction is always good for performance 

And something to be said about stuff flopping around doing nothing   

[Ford428CJ]

He was talking about locking the breaker plate. Not the mechanical advance. I have spot welded the plate for some guys that wanted to do away with the vacuum advance. Or you can leave the vacuum canister hooked up. 

[rockhouse66]

Yes, what Wes said.  The 1/8" hole and roll pin seems to work fine and the little plate I fab'd makes it look at least semi-finished.  I ran it on my Sun machine and the mechanical advance works as it should so all good now.