I reviewed the Lubrication Chart for my 1960 Ford Thunderbird. It indicates that I should lube the distributor under the rotor. This is new to me and I would like to know what type of lubrication I should use. The chart calls for High HP Purelube or Super Duty Purelube Motor Oil. Would a few drops of 10W30 motor oil work? Any information would be much appreciated.
If you are talking about the felt wick in the center of the shaft under the rotor, yes a few drops of 10W30 is fine.
No ! Early Fords have a 2 piece distributer shaft that require a few drops of oil on a felt pad under the rotor at each point change time . If you remove the rotor you will notice upper part of the distributer shaft is hollow , this is where to add a couple drops of oil . There should be a small felt pad in that hollow shaft to contain the oil you add and keep dust and dirt out .
The “why” of it is because that is part of the centrifugal advance mechanism and needs lubrication to insure movement of the rotor in relation to the distributor driveshaft. By comparison, the vacuum advance moves (rotates) the plate on which the points are mounted. Ray
Some of the earlier Ford distributor housings had an oil cup too, for distributor shaft/housing. Later ones don't. Every 8000 miles sez to clean/inspect/adjust points and lubricate distributor cam, with cam grease. The felt wick, should get a drop of oil every 500 to 1000 miles, go easy, too much oil will cause trouble with points. Those concentric ridge lines on the distributor shaft, are supposed to hold oil iirc. The idea is to keep the centrifugal advance weights and springs &c moving freely. Shop manual says SAE 10W for distributor wick and bushing, but any oil is better than no oil. Saturate the wick and no more.
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