I bought a cap and rotor for my crab style distributor from Bob Drake and they are not made correctly. The rotor fits and the cap fits, but if you put the two together, then the distributor won’t turn. Does anyone have the part numbers for the original parts so I can try to buy them through NAPA or a reliable source?
There are two different style rotors. As I remember, with the wrong combination, the rotor will hit the cap. Hopefully someone will add there two cents or else I will have to go out and do some digging. Neal
Sorry I don't have any NAPA numbers, but they can't look them up on their computer? Have them look up a 1942 Ford.
I got these part numbers from a Echlin number 105 Catalog date 1996. These are for Ford 1942-44 Contact Ass'y CS47, Condenser FA54, Cap FA65, Rotor FA64
I read a thread over on the FOrdbarn that one of the distributor gurus over there files the rotor contact a little because they aren't made with enough clearance. I know I broke one on mine until I filed the brass contact and also be sure to put the gasket on it between the cap and distributor housing.
Bubba's Ignition does file the tip of the rotor a bit because his source for parts had a clearance problem. I had him rebuild a 42 distributor for me and that's what came on it. Worked fine for years. But last summer I noticed the center contact button inside my cap had gone bad and let the contact spring of the rotor get chewed up too. I replaced both parts with items from my local Arnold Motor store. I don't have the brand or numbers in hand, but more than likely they were Standard or Echlin brand parts. The new ones fit fine and did not need any filing for clearance (I checked to make sure before I bolted the unit on the engine).
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