1941 Distributor ID

[Phil Gillespie]

Can anybody assist please:
Am after an 11A model 1941 distributor.
The seller tells me it has 11A and 31628 on it.
Is this the one?
Thanks Phil NZ

[V8COOPMAN]

"11A" does equate to 1941. DD

[Phil Gillespie]

Just for confirmation have located a distributor in my spares.
This is marked 11A on shaft tang and 31628 on the body so guess this is confirmation enough. But oveer the years bits do get mixed and matched.
Phil NZ

[35fordtn]

Just because the shaft say's 11A does not always mean much. I have taken apart many with 11A shafts that have 68 weights in them.

[ford38v8]

Originally Posted by 35fordtn

Just because the shaft say's 11A does not always mean much. I have taken apart many with 11A shafts that have 68 weights in them.

I'm gonna put you to work here if you've a mind to: I'm sure many, including myself, would like to see the difference between 68 & 11A weights and shafts. Would you please post a couple pics? I knew the advance assemblies were interchangeable within the distributor body, but didn't know the assembly parts themselves were mix and match. I guess you can't always tell a book by its cover!

Thanks!

[rotorwrench]

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As far as the weights and the disk are concerned, it might be harder to tell the difference unless you have them in your hand and you can see a part number or prefix on there. It didn't take much opening of the slots to change them for the increase in advance/retard capability. The 11A shaft is stamped as such so it should be more obvious.

While piece parts can be mixed and matched, most dealers likely changed out the whole shaft & advance assembly for the 11A-12175 assembly when converting the earlier 68 type distributors during repairs.

[Phil Gillespie]

Yes thats my understanding. And over the years until you actually dismantle yoou really dont know what you have. But am ceratain that one is right as it has shaft and body markings as you would expect. Thought I had a record of these but trusting to memory not good.
Are the 11A shaft and weight assemblies easy to come by considering they are only for 1941?
Phil NZ

[35fordtn]

I am out of town or I would post pictures of the 68 vs 11a parts. I will do so next week to help. The main three important parts are the shaft, weights, and what I call the index plate. The shaft is easy to identify as it is usually stamped. In the event it is not once apart you can still tell the difference in the angle of the two cut out that guide the weights.

The weights are usually stamped as well on the side. If they are not once you have handled a few of each it's easy to tell a difference. The 68 weights have considerably stiffer tension springs.

As for the index plate, ALL 11a's are stamped and 68's are not.

11a shafts are readily available NOS. If you have a 42-48 parts distributor you can use the index plate and weights from it to your 11a shaft.

Although the 11A distributor was a one year only dizzy, Ford made several of them as they became the service replacement part for the earlier (37-40) cars

[rotorwrench]

The 11A shaft was for the earlier helmet type distributors back to 68 types but the 11A weights & disc were used with the 21A shaft in the two bolt distributors as well. They were used until the Load-O-Matic distributors took over in the 8BA years.

[sjaakslinger]

I see this as an older thread, but maybe I can revive it.[emoji51]

I'm rebuilding a late '36 distributor with 68 markes shaft and weights. I found a 11A marked dizzy on Hershey. The shaft says 11A and I see the difference in slot openings compared to the 68 shaft.

The 11A plate is clearly different as well. I understand the weights are stiffer on the 11A, sure feels so when I try.

The 11A weights seem too used though with some visible cracks on 1 weight. I don't feel like using them. Does it make sense to use the somewhat stiffer 68 marked weights on the 11A shaft and plate?

Tia.

Dennis

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[35fordtn]

You can use the 68 weight on the 11a shaft and achieve the same advance curve by very slightly bending the stiffer thicker of the two springs outward.

[sjaakslinger]

Thanks![emoji106]

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[sjaakslinger]

I checked the weights. The 68 is on the right. The springs are much stiffer than the 11a and they already seem to be further bent outwards then the ones on the 11a.

Should I change anything here?

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[35fordtn]

I'd bend the thicker spring outward slightly more and then you'll achieve a similar advance to the original 11A VBy Slightly I mean 1/16" inch or so.. DO NOT BEND THE INNER SPRING OUT!! Be sure the rollers rotate freely, clean and lube WELL

[sjaakslinger]

Thanks a lot again.[emoji106]

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[Lawrie]

Are the slots that the rollers work in different as well,
I know the advance curve is different,
from the ford service book
68
Dist deg adv @ Distributor rpm
0-to 1/2. 200
2-3/4 to 3-3/4. 400
7-1/2 to 8-1/2. 950
total WOT adv 19 to 21deg @1900
(timing set at 4 deg)

11a 0- to 1/2 200
6-1/2 to 8 400
10-1/2 to 12. 600
Total WOT adv 25 to 28 @ 3450

The shaft assy with the little plate that drives the weights are both different ,hence the 68 or 11a stamped on them,so is the disc that controls the curve via the vac brake
Lawrie

[35fordtn]

That’s a good point I forgot to mention he needs to run the 11a disc to get the 11a curve as well. The weights are identical though minus spring tension

[sjaakslinger]

I have the 11a and shaft. The 11a weights have cracks, so I'll use the 68 weights with adjusted springs.

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