Packard Forum Index » Pre-War (1899-1942)

Just opened my 1940 356 engines distributor to replace points and found out the distributor is actually form a 1954 Packard! Distributor uses same cap and rotor but different points, the condense I'm not sure about. Any advice on this? Getting 54 points is not a problem, what seems to be a problem is setting the timing. My past experience with distributors is just loosing the tightening bolt and rotating the distributor to get the correct advance was simple. In this 54 distributor the tightening flange is fixed to the distributor outer case. This flange has two bolt holes for two tightening bolts one hole is round the other is elongated. So to adjust the timing, only one bolt can be installed in the elongated hole this is how it was done by the previous owner and the amount of adjustment is only what is allowed by the elongated hole for the second tightening bolt.
Am I missing anything on adjusting the timing with this distributor?
Thanks

I cannot speak to the technicalities of using the 54 distributor, however should you wish to obtain a 356 distributor, I should have one here...there are two numbers, one is 40-42, the other is 46-50 if i recall correctly. Might be worth getting an opinion as to what the change(difference) was and if either may be better for your engine, or more original.

Problem solved! Was advised the timing adjustment on a 54 distributor is by loosing the screw on the rod that connects the vacuum advance to the distributor outer body. The rod even has a calibrated scale once you look close. Will stick with this distributor for the time being as it seems to work well. Thanks for the advice and offers.