What would be the correct approach in converting a #2 Ballard  32 long breech block into a good 22 long rifle assembly?  Also, were the original Ballard 22 rim fires a 6 o'clock or 12 o'clock firing pin, and what would be possible with the #2 block?

rschof,

The firing pin strike on my Ballard #3 is approximately 12:30.  I wouldn't think there would be much practical difference from the 12:00 position of the rimfire setting of the #2 (if yours is a .32 rim-or-centerfire).  You would have to measure to see whether the .32 rimfire pin is long enough to hit a .22 rim as well.  If not, a dovetailed plate between the breechblock halves with a properly-located hole and a new firing pin is in order.

An equally-important issue would be what to do about the extractor.  The .22 rimfires have a shortened version of the lever-actuated extractor that actuates a linear extractor that slides back and forth in a hole or slot in the barrel parallel with the chamber and bore.  This arrangement allows the .22 rimfire to be chambered without any chance of the cartridge going in ahead of the extractor.  Larger rimfires and centerfires have plenty of overhang for the standard extractor, but using the regular extractor with a .22 will have you holding the lever, pushing the extractor back in and guiding in the cartridge every time you reload.

i would say that that would be too close.  The center of the extractor is in about the 7:00 position and it extends to 6:30 at least.  You would have the pin strike within a few thousandths of the edge of the extractor, and I doubt the thin web of metal would stay there very long.  Any loss of support around the rim might start the rims bursting, especially that near the pin strike.

Why is the 6:00 position so important?  Is it because they think the ignition must start where the powder is settled nearest the strike?