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Help with a Flame Thrower Distributor

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OregonTR4A

OregonTR4A

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I just purchased a 66 TR4A and have purchased the Pertronix electronic ignition distributor. I also got the coil to go with it. Is there any special tricks I should know while installing it? The current distributor is a mechanical advance. Can I or should I keep the new one as mechanical. The new dizzie has a vacuum advance. Do I just close it or what?

thanks in advance...ha ha
 
Re: help with a Flame Thrower Distrubutor

OregonTR4A said:
The current distributor is a mechanical advance. Can I or should I keep the new one as mechanical. The new dizzie has a vacuum advance. Do I just close it or what?
Click to expand...
You can just leave it disconnected if you want. Personally, I would want the vacuum advance connected for driving on the street, as it makes the engine more efficient at part throttle. NBD on the track; but on the highway every extra mpg helps.

If you have ZS carbs, there should be a port for the advance on top of the front carb. Not certain offhand, but ISTR the advance port for HS6 is on the bottom.
 
Re: help with a Flame Thrower Distrubutor

keep the vacuum advance...makes the car much more traffic friendly.
 
Re: help with a Flame Thrower Distrubutor

In an unrelated note:

I once saw a 66 Lincoln Continental with flame throwers mounted on the back.
 
Re: help with a Flame Thrower Distrubutor

Thanks for the information.
I have SU HS6s.
I think I found it on the front carb as you mentioned however I do not know what type of fitting is required.
I found one at Victoria that is part 8-3211 . It is a female carb adaptor. Does this sound right? After I screw that in if is correct, does it just take a slip fitting to connect to the vacuum line? By screwing in the adapter does that open the port?
 
Re: help with a Flame Thrower Distrubutor

Sorry, I have no idea about VB part numbers or what their fitting looks like. The one I have just takes a push-on hose, but it may not be original TR4A (since my HS6 carbs are from a Volvo).

The fitting doesn't open the port; if the port wasn't used before then there should have been a plug (or cap) on it. But it doesn't leak much, and only when the throttle is open, so it's possible someone left it open and didn't notice.
 
Re: help with a Flame Thrower Distrubutor

Just had a look at the HS6 carbs on my shelf. Both old and new have a simple push-on connection sticking up (on top of the main carb body, near the manifold flange). Looks like no fitting needed, except a length of flexible line.

I didn't measure the fitting, but it looked pretty small. For 3/16" id line, maybe.
 
Re: help with a Flame Thrower Distrubutor

Thanks for checking. I just went out and looked but on these there are no connections on top. Your first suggestion is the winner. I took a dental mirror and under the front carb there is a threaded port. I started it up and sure enough there is a vacuum. I was able to call and add the 3.00 fitting to my order so it will arrive with the new dizzie. Thanks for all your help. This forum is the greatest!
 
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