Subject: Re: [Healeys] Distributor Swap

From: Harold Manifold <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 26 Mar 2023 14:10:32 -0700

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Simon,

I think the answer is "it depends". I changed my Lucas DM6A to a 123 when I
restored my car as the Lucas distributor was being used as a blender for
small parts that had fallen down into the weights over the years.

I wanted the distributor cap and plug wires to be in the approximate same
position as the Lucas DM6A so it looks the same at first glance and the
routing of the plug wires is close to original. The only way I could do
this was to change the position of the distributor drive gear with respect
to the cam until it would line up with the drive dog on the bottom of the
123. If I put the DM6A back in the car the timing would be way off. If the
hole for the drive dog peg was in the same position relative to the
position of the rotor on the 123 as the DM6A then they should be
interchangeable.

If you don't move the drive gear when you set up the 123 then the DM6A
should go back. The issue you may have is the plug wires don't look very
tidy with the 123. If the rotor is pointing at the same cylinder, even
though it may be in a different position, for both distributors then it
should work. Pack your timing light as well.

Harold

On Sun, Mar 26, 2023 at 12:57=E2=80=AFPM Simon Lachlan via Healeys <
[email-masked]> wrote:

> I should probably be able to work this out for myself, but =E2=80=93 just=
 to be
> sure =E2=80=93 I=E2=80=99m asking the experts.
>
> Talking about a Lucas DM6a in a MkII BT7. And a 123 alternative.
>
>
>
> So, I have a 123 installed in the car and a Lucas DM6A, complete with
> Pertronix, in the boot. (Trunk!) Yes, both distributors have the correct
> =E2=80=9CDrive dog(?)=E2=80=9D on the bottom. (Part 25 in the attached pi=
c).
>
> Thus, it is mechanically possible to remove the 123 and drop in the Lucas
> in its place.
>
>
>
> My question is this=E2=80=A6=E2=80=A6if I manage to accomplish this witho=
ut messing up the
> timing ie rotating the distributors in the clamp, will everything line up
> and the engine fire up?? I hope that the Drive dog will/can only slot int=
o
> one position and that will be the one and only correct position. If you s=
ee
> what I mean?
>
>
>
> I hope to be able to carry the Lucas as a spare =E2=80=9Cget you home=E2=
=80=9D and,
> likewise, hope that it=E2=80=99s a  straight swap without having to frig =
around
> with the timing.
>
>
>
> Am I correct? It=E2=80=99ll be a straightforward swap or will it turn int=
o a
> complicated roadside tune-up??
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Simon
>
>
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<div dir=3D"ltr">Simon,<div><br></div><div>I think the=C2=A0answer=C2=A0is =
&quot;it depends&quot;. I changed my Lucas DM6A to a 123 when I restored my=
 car as the Lucas distributor=C2=A0was being used as a blender for small pa=
rts that had fallen down into the weights over the years.</div><div><br></d=
iv><div>I wanted the distributor=C2=A0cap and plug wires to be in the appro=
ximate same position as the Lucas DM6A so it looks the same at first glance=
 and the routing of the plug wires is close to original. The only way I cou=
ld do this was to change the position of the distributor drive gear with re=
spect to the cam until it would line up with the drive dog on the bottom of=
 the 123. If I put the DM6A back in the car the timing would be way off. If=
 the hole for the drive dog peg was in the same position relative to the po=
sition of the rotor on the 123 as the DM6A then they should be interchangea=
ble.</div><div><br></div><div>If you don&#39;t move the drive gear when you=
 set up the 123 then the DM6A should go back. The issue you may have is the=
 plug wires don&#39;t look very tidy with the 123. If the rotor is pointing=
 at the same cylinder, even though it may be in a different position, for b=
oth distributors then it should work. Pack your timing light as well.</div>=
<div><br></div><div>Harold</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></di=
v></div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr=
">On Sun, Mar 26, 2023 at 12:57=E2=80=AFPM Simon Lachlan via Healeys &lt;<a=
 href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]">[email-masked]</a>&gt; wrot=
e:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0=
.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div class=3D=
"msg6870669974531693070"><div lang=3D"EN-GB"><div class=3D"m_68706699745316=
93070WordSection1"><p class=3D"MsoNormal">I should probably be able to work=
 this out for myself, but =E2=80=93 just to be sure =E2=80=93 I=E2=80=99m a=
sking the experts.<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal">Talking about a =
Lucas DM6a in a MkII BT7. And a 123 alternative.<u></u><u></u></p><p class=
=3D"MsoNormal"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal">So, I have a =
123 installed in the car and a Lucas DM6A, complete with Pertronix, in the =
boot. (Trunk!) Yes, both distributors have the correct =E2=80=9CDrive dog(?=
)=E2=80=9D on the bottom. (Part 25 in the attached pic).<u></u><u></u></p><=
p class=3D"MsoNormal">Thus, it is mechanically possible to remove the 123 a=
nd drop in the Lucas in its place.<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal">=
<u></u>=C2=A0<u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal">My question is this=E2=80=A6=
=E2=80=A6if I manage to accomplish this without messing up the timing ie ro=
tating the distributors in the clamp, will everything line up and the engin=
e fire up?? I hope that the Drive dog will/can only slot into one position =
and that will be the one and only correct position. If you see what I mean?=
<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u></p><p class=
=3D"MsoNormal">I hope to be able to carry the Lucas as a spare =E2=80=9Cget=
 you home=E2=80=9D and, likewise, hope that it=E2=80=99s a=C2=A0 straight s=
wap without having to frig around with the timing.<u></u><u></u></p><p clas=
s=3D"MsoNormal"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal">Am I correct=
? It=E2=80=99ll be a straightforward swap or will it turn into a complicate=
d roadside tune-up??<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><u></u>=C2=A0<=
u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal">Thanks,<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNo=
rmal">Simon<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u></p=
></div></div>_______________________________________________<br>
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---

From: Alan Seigrist <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 28 Mar 2023 12:22:14 +0800

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Simon -

You'll need to do a roadside timing.  With contacts, it's easy because you
can twist the dizzy until you see the contacts open at TDC, then start the
car and advance the dizzy a bit until you get smooth running.  Usually
that's pretty accurate to within a couple degrees.

Since you have a pertronix, I would recommend fitting the dizzy first and
using a timing gun figure out where it's supposed to be, then make a mark
at the bottom of the dizzy with a permanent marker so that you can just pop
it in the right spot if you ever get in trouble.

Best,

Alan

 to be
c).
ut messing up the
o
ee
=80=9D and,
around
o a
> http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/healeys/[email-masked]
>
>

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<div dir=3D"ltr">Simon -<div><br></div><div>You&#39;ll need to do a roadsid=
e timing.=C2=A0 With contacts, it&#39;s easy because you can twist the dizz=
y until you see the contacts open at TDC, then start the car and advance th=
e dizzy a bit until you get smooth running.=C2=A0 Usually that&#39;s pretty=
 accurate to within a couple degrees.<br><br>Since you have a pertronix, I =
would recommend fitting the dizzy first and using a timing gun figure out w=
here it&#39;s supposed to be, then make a mark at the bottom of the dizzy w=
ith a permanent marker so that you can just pop it in the right spot if you=
 ever get in trouble.<br><br>Best,<br><br>Alan</div></div><br><div class=3D=
"gmail_quote"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Mon, Mar 27, 2023 at=
 4:04=E2=80=AFAM Simon Lachlan via Healeys &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:healeys@au=
tox.team.net">[email-masked]</a>&gt; wrote:<br></div><blockquote cl=
ass=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid=
 rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div class=3D"msg7369389827087795963"><=
div lang=3D"EN-GB"><div class=3D"m_7369389827087795963WordSection1"><p clas=
s=3D"MsoNormal">I should probably be able to work this out for myself, but =
=E2=80=93 just to be sure =E2=80=93 I=E2=80=99m asking the experts.<u></u><=
u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal">Talking about a Lucas DM6a in a MkII BT7. =
And a 123 alternative.<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><u></u>=C2=
=A0<u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal">So, I have a 123 installed in the car =
and a Lucas DM6A, complete with Pertronix, in the boot. (Trunk!) Yes, both =
distributors have the correct =E2=80=9CDrive dog(?)=E2=80=9D on the bottom.=
 (Part 25 in the attached pic).<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal">Thu=
s, it is mechanically possible to remove the 123 and drop in the Lucas in i=
ts place.<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u></p><=
p class=3D"MsoNormal">My question is this=E2=80=A6=E2=80=A6if I manage to a=
ccomplish this without messing up the timing ie rotating the distributors i=
n the clamp, will everything line up and the engine fire up?? I hope that t=
he Drive dog will/can only slot into one position and that will be the one =
and only correct position. If you see what I mean?<u></u><u></u></p><p clas=
s=3D"MsoNormal"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal">I hope to be=
 able to carry the Lucas as a spare =E2=80=9Cget you home=E2=80=9D and, lik=
ewise, hope that it=E2=80=99s a=C2=A0 straight swap without having to frig =
around with the timing.<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><u></u>=C2=
=A0<u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal">Am I correct? It=E2=80=99ll be a strai=
ghtforward swap or will it turn into a complicated roadside tune-up??<u></u=
><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoN=
ormal">Thanks,<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal">Simon<u></u><u></u><=
/p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u></p></div></div>_____________=
__________________________________<br>
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