The Johnny Hangover Special project has begun. This is a '29 Model A with the banger motor in it. I'm trying to get the thing running since it's still in good shape, and cheap... Anyway, my question is about the Distributor. When I go to drop it in, The shaft is about 1/2" too short (story of my life) & does not connect with the drive gear shaft that also drives the oil pump... The spring on the bottom of the oil pump is in the right place and the distributor is a new-reman. Anybody run into this before? Thank you BYC
Is your distributor the type that has the long shaft coming out of the bottom? If so, it may not be a ford part, but rather something that someone had made. It would be my recomendation to run that distributor with short nub on the bottom and have the shaft that drops down inside the motor. This sort of gives you a universal joint, putting less stress on the bushings in the bottom of the distributor. Here's a picture of a distributor with the short shaft.
OOO, Mine Has the long shaft on it, but there's a pin holding it in... Does that mean if I knock out the pin I have the short shaft like your picture then? Also My parts book shows Two different lengths of shafts... Is this the difference between the long & short? Thank you, BYC
Yes. There should be a pin on there and a sleeve. The pin holds the sleve and the long shaft on the distributor. Driving that pin out should disconnect the upper shaft from that long lower shaft. You then put that sleeve and pin back in. You should then have a tab exposed. you purchase the Lower shaft that drops down into the engine. Part # A12249. It should be about $3 from a Brattons or Snyders.
Are you sure you don't have the shaft 180% out? The knife edge connection on the shaft and cam gear connection is not symetrical.
Not sure I follow you Kid... I'm pretty sure I had the oil pump shaft/gear seated all the way..it was turning whenthe motor cranked over any way... BYC
Stock A or B distributor has the short shaft, which only sticks out of the housing about half an inch, and an intermediate shaft that goes on down to the drive gear. The long shaft is aftermarket only, sold as a way to simplify things and get rid of some slop, but it is generally to be avoided. The distributor seats in the head, which is not precisely located in relationship to the drive gear. It is ususally a bit out of line here, and so the long shaft causes rapid wear as it oscillates to compensate. The two shaft system serves as a sort of U joint-compensator. There's lots of rotary slop in the system no matter what you use, but proper timing procedure either with the stock pin or with a timing light is done with the slop taken up in proper rotary direction. The long shaft is one piece all the way up to the rotor, but the short shaft to replace it is cheap and readily available. Get a couple of the thrust washers used at each end of shaft so you can set endplay very tight.
Mr. Barnyard...It's good to hear your workin on the "A" project! I'll have to come over and see how your doin. gotta love bangers -Kev
Von! Yea, it's about time hugh?!?! We'll see what she turns into. Still dosn't look like much, yet. Hear your a neighbor now so that means you should come over for Daquri Day at the House of Rust one of these weekends... After the Swap meet is usually a good time since we get a head start on the day there... BYC
I hope you guys don't mind me asking, but I got a 31 ford pickup that came with 4 extra motors. they have been sittig out side for 30+ years, are these worth trying to sell or are they scrape?
I Don't Know...Maybe? http://motors.search.ebay.com/Model-A-Engine_Parts-Accessories_W0QQsacategoryZ6028 BYC
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