Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Here's a new one from Summit Racing for the Olds ($159):

summitracing.com/parts/sum-850006

I've used HEIs on my Pontiacs a lot. The only problem is when the control module quits, but you can get those at any auto parts store.

Hi, Craig,

Yes, I know new OEM and aftermarket Olds distributors are available, but buying one and throwing away 3/4ths of it just seems a waste.

Packard owners are more likely to pay what it costs than are Studebaker owners, but a $500 distributor won't help as many as if a $250 or less drop in kit could be developed.

jack vines

"Packard owners are more likely to pay what it costs than are Studebaker owners"

You could have a perfect NOS distributor in the manufacturer's box, with the exact model number on it for a Studebaker, ask $40 for it at a swap meet and have a Studebaker guy throw it down on your table in disgust when you quote them that price.

I'll revisit this in spring when I get my car out of storage and I can do some measuring on the distributor. But I don't see where turning a new housing from a billet to fit whatever innards, cap or shaft and gear that you want to use would be cost prohibitive at all.

Thanks for offering to collaborate. I'll try to have the internal part of the design done before spring. It needs to use as many OEM parts as possible.

jack vines

i found it easy to convert, the mallory uni-lite, to delco, my looks org. i use the same cap.

Jack,

Did you see theses?
stores.ebay.com/R-W-DParts/Packard-Parts-/_i.html?_fsub=909168010

Thanks for the heads-up. I'll make them an offer for all three Autolites. Still could use a Delco.

FWIW, I found one Delco distributor with the driven gear retaining pin hole in the shaft so wallowed out, it wasn't usable. Anyone ever seen same?

jack vines

Jack, I don't know that I've seen a large enough sample of V8 distributors to be statistically significant, but no - I've not seen that. Ross Miller has probably seen 50 times what I've seen so I'd think his observation would be far more valid.

I'm reviving this old thread because I am ready to tackle the distributor adaption that Jack described for my Panther engine. I already have a new Olds HEI distributor, but I need a Packard V-8 distributor gear. Jack doesn't have any extra and I cannot find mine. A local friend loaned me the Autolite distributor out of his 55 Clipper 320, so I have it for comparison. I should be able to find a Chevy distributor to pull the shaft from.

Anyone have a good used or NOS V-8 distributor gear?

Craig