The Ford Barn

modela4shane · 06-21-2015, 02:59 PM

Did Ford make two different versions of the crab? Iron and aluminum? Was one a early or late and is one version any better than the other? Thank you.

Walt Dupont--Me. · 06-21-2015, 03:17 PM

Yea, some of the big trucks had the cast iron crabs. I've always liked them, they seem to be built better. Walt

42merc · 06-21-2015, 04:30 PM

Seems like the cast iron ones were war time manufacture. Aluminum scarcity ?
Dennis Carpenter in the eighties was selling NOS iron ones as military surplus.
I have one of those.

I don't think one is better than the other.

Ian NZ · 06-21-2015, 06:15 PM

i have found that the Vacuum advance chamber on the cast iron crabs give a better vacuum reading on the stroboscope than the worn aluminium ones as they wear out quicker with the piston movement which would give them more leakage, than the cast iron crabs, in fact some cast iron crabs have a bronze bush fitted in this chamber as well, the leakage on the worn aluminium distributors affects the vacuum advance settings so the adjusting screw has to be released to relieve the tension on the spring.

BUBBAS IGNITION · 06-21-2015, 06:59 PM

We do lots more of the aluminum than the cast , however I like the others believe the cast is a great distributor. kinda like a gloss black cast unit in favor of the aluminum unit.
We have both , just ask for the cast iron unit .....

Bruce Lancaster · 06-22-2015, 11:14 AM

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I think the source for iron ones is Canada. I don't know if all Canadian ones were iron.
I keep one living on top of a KRW timing ficture because it matches and looks great there...

Kube · 06-22-2015, 02:01 PM

Steel was 1942 production only.

06-21-2015, 02:59 PM	#1
modela4shane Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 165	Crab style distributor IRON- ALUMINUM? Did Ford make two different versions of the crab? Iron and aluminum? Was one a early or late and is one version any better than the other? Thank you.

06-21-2015, 03:17 PM	#2
Walt Dupont--Me. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Gardiner Me. Posts: 4,200	Re: Crab style distributor IRON- ALUMINUM? Yea, some of the big trucks had the cast iron crabs. I've always liked them, they seem to be built better. Walt

06-21-2015, 04:30 PM	#3
42merc Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Buchanan, MI Posts: 676	Re: Crab style distributor IRON- ALUMINUM? Seems like the cast iron ones were war time manufacture. Aluminum scarcity ? Dennis Carpenter in the eighties was selling NOS iron ones as military surplus. I have one of those. I don't think one is better than the other. Last edited by 42merc; 06-21-2015 at 04:43 PM.

06-21-2015, 06:15 PM	#4
Ian NZ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Taranaki, New Zealand Posts: 922	Re: Crab style distributor IRON- ALUMINUM? i have found that the Vacuum advance chamber on the cast iron crabs give a better vacuum reading on the stroboscope than the worn aluminium ones as they wear out quicker with the piston movement which would give them more leakage, than the cast iron crabs, in fact some cast iron crabs have a bronze bush fitted in this chamber as well, the leakage on the worn aluminium distributors affects the vacuum advance settings so the adjusting screw has to be released to relieve the tension on the spring.

06-21-2015, 06:59 PM	#5
BUBBAS IGNITION Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: SPEEDWAY INDIANA Posts: 4,148	Re: Crab style distributor IRON- ALUMINUM? We do lots more of the aluminum than the cast , however I like the others believe the cast is a great distributor. kinda like a gloss black cast unit in favor of the aluminum unit. We have both , just ask for the cast iron unit ..... __________________ If it Makes Spark, we do it !!!! www.bubbasignition.com [email protected]

06-22-2015, 11:14 AM	#6
Bruce Lancaster Member Emeritus Join Date: May 2010 Location: Madison, NJ Posts: 5,230	Re: Crab style distributor IRON- ALUMINUM? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I think the source for iron ones is Canada. I don't know if all Canadian ones were iron. I keep one living on top of a KRW timing ficture because it matches and looks great there...

06-22-2015, 02:01 PM	#7
Kube Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 9,006	Re: Crab style distributor IRON- ALUMINUM? Steel was 1942 production only. __________________ "I can explain it for you. However, I can't understand it for you".