Need a little help on this!

[Tom-MI]

I am converting my '36 over to a crab distributor. Generally, everything went as planned untill I came to the clips which hold the cap on. The clips don't snap into place. They just don't catch the cap. I have tried new spring kits and new caps. Same-O, same-O. I tried bending the clips. Still no luck.

I tried a search of the archives on the Barn. Lots of discussion about crab distributors but nothing about the clips. Desperatly need a Plan "B"

Thanks Tom

[cas3]

there are different clips for the "rabbit ear" 46-48 cap, than the crab cap. same dizzy. got the right clips?

[KiWinUS]

I have seen this with some of the New made caps available today. Installed very old NOS cap problem fixed. Good luck. Cheers
Tony

[Tom-MI]

They are the correct clips. Got them from Joe's (21A-12144).

[35fordtn]

The repro clips aren’t quite as good as originals but I use them weekly with no issues. I’d think it’s your cap

[deuce_roadster]

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Do you have the gasket between the cap and body?

[Newc]

Way back; I remember Bubba discussing this and then there were No clips available. Newc

[38bill]

Try bending them?

[Mart]

Does the cap have a distinct groove for the clip to locate into? Or a distinct edge to clip over?

Remove the cap and looking closely at it, offer a clip to it in the same angle of attack as on the unit.

You should be able to see why it doesn't want to go on.

You should be able to either modify the cap, replace the cap, or carefully reshape the clips to make it work.

You would be better off doing this with the distributor out of the car and all the leads out of the cap so you can really see up close.

Mart.

[sunshine]

Is the cap fitting freely onto the dist. I know you have the correct rotor for the crabb . Or it would keep the cap away from fitting at all . I guess I was lucky with mine I had a NOC and clips. Are you trying to put the cap on with the wires attached ? Sunshine

[Tom-MI]

First, I would like to thank all that responded so quickly especially, Mart for his search approach

The problem was the clips. They are "suppose" to be spring steel these were not. To hook the clip to the cap the clip must be distorted by pressing on it then when the pressure is released the clip goes back to its' original shape locking the cap to the distributor. These clips didn't fully restore. Evidently, this is not an isolated problem with clips. Some hubcap clips on the market today also lack the needed amount of spring in their composition resulting in a lost hubcap. I guess this is another example of "looking right" but not "working right."

Again, thanks for the help.

Tom

[ford38v8]

Originally Posted by Tom-MI

First, I would like to thank all that responded so quickly especially, Mart for his search approach

The problem was the clips. They are "suppose" to be spring steel these were not. To hook the clip to the cap the clip must be distorted by pressing on it then when the pressure is released the clip goes back to its' original shape locking the cap to the distributor. These clips didn't fully restore. Evidently, this is not an isolated problem with clips. Some hubcap clips on the market today also lack the needed amount of spring in their composition resulting in a lost hubcap. I guess this is another example of "looking right" but not "working right."

Again, thanks for the help.

Tom

Sounds kinda like a pretty woman I used to know.