Hey guys I have a 56 nailhead I'm running in my 55. I bought a new cam shaft for my rebuild and was wondering what distributor gear I should use? This cam is cast iron the original cam was steel. I'm looking to run an hei Chevy style distributor but I don't know if I should use the chromoly steel gear that comes with the distributor or get a different gear. Please advise
Use a gear from a '56-'66 NailHead which will be compatible with the cast cam. Instead of going with an HEI type dist. use a dist. from a '56-'66. Bolt-in. Then use an ignition conversion to electronic. Many choices out there.
Hey Tom, couldn't I just use my distributor from the 55 with a electronic conversion? I would still need a cast iron gear because the 55 had a steel gear.
Just a thought with the HEI, are you sure there is room for the big dizzy cap? On my 58 (from memory, engines out) there isnt a lot of room back there Mick
If you use the '57 or newer dist. they will have the much more commonly available part availability. They used the "Windowed" dist. cap, adjustable points from the outside, the springs & advance readily serviceable WITHOUT removing or having to take apart the dist. to accomplish weight & spring changes, etc. etc. etc. Tom T.
I think I have my old one of my 62 engine. I got a hei for a give away price so I wont be using the oem one.
Since a 1960 used a cast cam & NOT a steel cam the gear should be compatible with the cast cam unless someone changed it.
It looks like the gear was changed, I can see the lathe marks where the steel was cut. What about a bronze gear. Does anyone know where to get a cast one? Links local etc.
The OP mentioned maybe replacing the points with an electronic conversion. Does this affect the curve settings at all ? Reading Russ Martin's website he talks about some distributors ( 60s ) having different curve settings ( some better than others )
