223 distributor

PJtheRat · Post by **PJtheRat** » November 18, 2007, 9:12 am

Did the last year of the 223 ('64) use a bigger oil pump?
Bad advance and coil wire in mine led me on another hunt, they do not sell just those parts apparently, so I ended up with a rebuilt from Cardone. The first one was incorrect, for the 300. It was a Load-o for sure, but the base was wrong, had an O-ring seal, rough cast mounting base, 7/8" too long input shaft. But the oil pump shaft fit.
The next one was listed for models up to '62 or '63, nothing listed '64. Correct base & length, but the input shaft did not hold my 5/8" oil shaft. Hmmm...

I ended up using the new one as parts to get my old one back in a decent state. But it is still the old dizzy, and that is okay for now.

Another question... where does one find the little oil fitting cover below the body of the dizzy, with the flip cap? The new one didn't have it, just a plastic plug. And for that matter, what is that thing called? Even Graingers didn't have it (& Grainger has everything).

PJ

66fordtrucknut · Post by **66fordtrucknut** » November 18, 2007, 7:47 pm

Go here and ask in the vintage forum. I heard you can use a 300 and change the gear on the bottom, but not positive, but theres good info. over there on our motors, I have a 223 also.
Charlie
http://fordsix.com/forum/

bobenhotep · Post by **bobenhotep** » November 18, 2007, 7:51 pm

that doo flopper is called an oil cup according to the 1958 service manual on oldcarmanual.com. good stuff in there...

blackagatha · Post by **blackagatha** » November 18, 2007, 9:43 pm

wow, it's a 5/8 oil shaft? that's huge.... I think the ones in FEs are only 3/8...

i hate the shit at typical parts houses. It truly sucks that you had to use a nice rebuilt unit for a donor to patch your old one together...

The Big M · Post by **The Big M** » November 19, 2007, 1:41 pm

Pre-64 used a 1/4" hex shaft. The 64 version used a 5/16" hex shaft. A 300 distributor also uses the 5/16" shaft, which allows you to use a Duraspark distributor from a 300 in your 223, provided you have the 64 oil pump. You just modify the original 223 distributor gear to fit the 5/16" shaft on the 300 distributor. The shaft may need to be shortened as well.

MadMaxetc · Post by **MadMaxetc** » November 19, 2007, 2:16 pm

The Big M wrote:Pre-64 used a 1/4" hex shaft. The 64 version used a 5/16" hex shaft. A 300 distributor also uses the 5/16" shaft, which allows you to use a Duraspark distributor from a 300 in your 223, provided you have the 64 oil pump. You just modify the original 223 distributor gear to fit the 5/16" shaft on the 300 distributor. The shaft may need to be shortened as well.

Cool. That would be a nice mod to any 223. I think I have a 300 dizzy sitting around, but my 223 is a 63.

The Big M · Post by **The Big M** » November 19, 2007, 4:15 pm

My 223 is a '59, but I scored a '64 oil pump on eBay and a 300 distributor from a wrecker. It should be a significant upgrade over the original.

PJtheRat · Post by **PJtheRat** » November 19, 2007, 7:00 pm

Thanks for the answers, that is what I was looking for. I had fears that because this was a state contract truck there were some oddball parts, but it makes sense now, that the oil pump was a factory change.
BlackAgatha, you are correct, it's a 5/16". Big M, the 300 dizzy I had the first go around was a bit long, 7/8", but the gear seemed to fit. I didn't turn the motor, so I don't know if it would have been a problem. The mounting to the block was different as well, the 300 had an O-ring that I had to take out to get it to drop all the way in, sealing it would be another re-engineering trick, as the 223 was machined & used a paper gasket, but not impossible.
I am just thrilled that it finally works like it should. Now on to the other sixteen things I need to do, but first a drive around town showing my bluedots & a big grin...

PJ