The Ford Barn

BUBBAS IGNITION · 10-31-2018, 01:32 PM

Theres not a day goes buy that i don't learn something ???? Heres the point plate out of a crab ( 42-48 Ford distributor) with a very interesting modification on it . Some old racer figured this out .

I will just leave it here for discussion .. ?????????

35fordtn · 10-31-2018, 01:37 PM

Was the slot in the housing hogged out as well?

BUBBAS IGNITION · 10-31-2018, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 35fordtn

Was the slot in the housing hogged out as well?

I guess it would have been, although i didnt have the housing, note the the brass contacts have been cut out etc. Gotta wonder what they were thinking, someday when we are just sitting around ask me about my early days at the gas station where we sponsored a very fast flathead dirt track car ( i was 14-15 etc).

35fordtn · 10-31-2018, 05:04 PM

I guess with the contact altered and a modified a slot in the housing you could get one to run a V8 on a single set of points.. wonder what the most dwell you could safely get out of a single set of points would be... 32 degrees?

JWL · 11-01-2018, 05:56 AM

Set up for alky-nitro blends. 35 to 45 degrees common.

BUBBAS IGNITION · 11-01-2018, 06:58 AM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by 35fordtn

I guess with the contact altered and a modified a slot in the housing you could get one to run a V8 on a single set of points.. wonder what the most dwell you could safely get out of a single set of points would be... 32 degrees?

I have never been able to get one to run good on a single set of points , just can get the proper dwell.....????

BUBBAS IGNITION · 11-01-2018, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JWL

Set up for alky-nitro blends. 35 to 45 degrees common.

JWL you talking cranksaft timing or engine dwell....??????

35fordtn · 11-01-2018, 08:07 AM

Jim,
Fooling around, 31 degrees is the most I’ve ever gotten and the gap was so tight it likely would never work.... I think JWL is certainly talking timing not dwell

JWL · 11-01-2018, 11:59 AM

Yes, I was describing the reason for the extended tang was to allow for more timing advance without using the Harmon Collins plate.

BUBBAS IGNITION · 11-02-2018, 09:45 AM

Yes the Harmon Collins adjustment plate fixed the issue of not having adjustable timing. ( at least not easily adjustable

)
The issue with all the early Fords was the case either helmet or crab wasnt movable once mounted. A good thing for the Ford service dept and service techs as the chevy guys was cranking the timing up and down in every gas station in the country.
Many figured out the mods to allow some increased spark timing and advance, but in reality there was another constraint, and that was "rotor phase" you can only move the point set so far until you have spark scatter with the rotor being out of phase with the cap contact!

40 Deluxe · 11-02-2018, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BUBBAS IGNITION

Yes the Harmon Collins adjustment plate fixed the issue of not having adjustable timing. ( at least not easily adjustable

)

Many figured out the mods to allow some increased spark timing and advance, but in reality there was another constraint, and that was "rotor phase" you can only move the point set so far until you have spark scatter with the rotor being out of phase with the cap contact!

Is this why Chevy sixes had the vacuum advance move the whole distributor body? I've often wondered why they did that.

BUBBAS IGNITION · 11-03-2018, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 40 Deluxe

Is this why Chevy sixes had the vacuum advance move the whole distributor body? I've often wondered why they did that.

Actually that was a terrible idea! We weld them up and make them solid......

HDowse · 11-03-2018, 01:32 PM

How do you get spark advance in the Chevy six after welding up the vacuum advance? Is there an internal mod that you fit?

BUBBAS IGNITION · 11-03-2018, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HDowse

How do you get spark advance in the Chevy six after welding up the vacuum advance? Is there an internal mod that you fit?

No the chevy six uses a delco distributor with vacuum and mechanical advance. The mechanica

l advance works very very good by its self....

10-31-2018, 01:37 PM	#2
35fordtn Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: McMinnville, TN Posts: 2,327	Re: Crab distributors makes my head hurt sometimes ???? Was the slot in the housing hogged out as well?

10-31-2018, 05:04 PM	#4
35fordtn Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: McMinnville, TN Posts: 2,327	Re: Crab distributors makes my head hurt sometimes ???? I guess with the contact altered and a modified a slot in the housing you could get one to run a V8 on a single set of points.. wonder what the most dwell you could safely get out of a single set of points would be... 32 degrees?

11-01-2018, 05:56 AM	#5
JWL Member Emeritus Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fitzgerald, Georgia Posts: 2,204	Re: Crab distributors makes my head hurt sometimes ???? Set up for alky-nitro blends. 35 to 45 degrees common.

11-01-2018, 08:07 AM	#8
35fordtn Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: McMinnville, TN Posts: 2,327	Re: Crab distributors makes my head hurt sometimes ???? Jim, Fooling around, 31 degrees is the most I’ve ever gotten and the gap was so tight it likely would never work.... I think JWL is certainly talking timing not dwell

11-01-2018, 11:59 AM	#9
JWL Member Emeritus Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fitzgerald, Georgia Posts: 2,204	Re: Crab distributors makes my head hurt sometimes ???? Yes, I was describing the reason for the extended tang was to allow for more timing advance without using the Harmon Collins plate.

11-02-2018, 09:45 AM	#10
BUBBAS IGNITION Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: SPEEDWAY INDIANA Posts: 4,148	Re: Crab distributors makes my head hurt sometimes ???? Yes the Harmon Collins adjustment plate fixed the issue of not having adjustable timing. ( at least not easily adjustable ) The issue with all the early Fords was the case either helmet or crab wasnt movable once mounted. A good thing for the Ford service dept and service techs as the chevy guys was cranking the timing up and down in every gas station in the country. Many figured out the mods to allow some increased spark timing and advance, but in reality there was another constraint, and that was "rotor phase" you can only move the point set so far until you have spark scatter with the rotor being out of phase with the cap contact! __________________ If it Makes Spark, we do it !!!! www.bubbasignition.com [email protected]

11-03-2018, 01:32 PM	#13
HDowse Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Hancock, New Hampshire Posts: 375	Re: Crab distributors makes my head hurt sometimes ???? How do you get spark advance in the Chevy six after welding up the vacuum advance? Is there an internal mod that you fit?