The Ford Barn

Bluebell · 09-02-2016, 02:29 AM

Hi, Can anyone tell me the lengths of each of the H.T. leads for a crab (42 on) distributor using the original steel conduits, and using right angle terminations?
I have requested a P&A from Magnacor, and they have asked for the lengths required.
I'd rather over estimate and cut to length when they arrive, as I can't buy made up both ends leads, because of the conduits. All make sense?

Brian · 09-02-2016, 02:39 AM

What is a P&A? And who is Magnacore?

Brian · 09-02-2016, 02:43 AM

I assume, upon contemplation that P&A is price and availability. I've got a roll of copper HT lead here, how about I send it up to you, use what you want, send me anything thats left?

Bluebell · 09-02-2016, 02:22 PM

Hi Brian I am after some good quality lead that is not copper wire. I have bought a pertronix trigger thing (reluctor?) and they(Pertronix) say it cannot be used with copper ht leads. It is something to do with magnetic flux and the spiral wound fine resistance wire puts it at right angles to the lay of the wire (which is apparently o.k) I've never seen the stuff and known about it.
It seems to be a std thing with electronic ignition. I'm a learner.
I know your going to say, go with the points,but I have a few reasons that I think justify going this way.

cmbrucew · 09-02-2016, 06:13 PM

Bluebell
1937 to 1941 Ford
#1 & #5 red and black 22.5"
#2 & #6 black and blue 26.5"
#3 & #7 black and green 30.5"
#4 & #8 black and yellow 35.5"

Hope this helps.
Bruce

Bluebell · 09-02-2016, 07:04 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Thanks Bruce, but the Crab is different. Two leads cross over from the conduits

Mart · 09-03-2016, 02:57 AM

I ordered new leads for a crab, but in my case they were suppressed leads with fixed ends so I did not use conduits. I got the lengths a bit short on the two longest ones. This is not much help, other than I would advise dummying the job up with something like washing line or electrical wire until you have a nice tidy looking setup, then measure those to get the lengths you need.
If you err on the long side you can always lose an inch or so in the routing, but it looks a bit poor if they are short and you have to pull them straight to reach the plug (like mine).

That said, this is a stock application, so as long as you have the correct type conduits, compatible with a crab, someone may have the lengths listed somewhere.

Mart.

scooder · 09-03-2016, 06:04 AM

To go with my mate Mart here,
I've used TV coax aerial lead, cheap in long lengths, similar size and shapes the same as HT leads and gives you a real "through the conduit" fit. Just incase you wernt aware.
If your using original style conduits check the diameter of your fancy shmancy leads, most of them are 8mm rather than 7mm. Don't sound much, but needs dealing with. Real tight in the conduit, and sometimes won't fit the distributor cap/caps. Have drilled the caps 8mm for fit in the past. There's enough "meat" in the cap terminals for this.
Martin.

Mart · 09-03-2016, 06:18 AM

Good call on the coax aerial lead, Mart.
Mart.

Bluebell · 09-03-2016, 07:33 AM

Hi Guys, What I am looking at is Magnacor Electrosports 7mm cable.

JSeery · 09-03-2016, 07:47 AM

Is there a reason you need the plug clips already attached to the wires? I prefer the Rajah 90 degree clips and use bulk wire that I cut to length myself.

Bluebell · 09-03-2016, 05:40 PM

Hi Jseery, I have never seen this type of lead and I just thought that I was reducing the chances of trouble by having 50% of the terminations done by the people with the correct tooling.Henry's conduit complicates this exercise. You may appreciate that everything I buy stateside almost doubles in price because of the freight and then again because of the exchange rate. We get about U.S.60 cents for our N.Z.$1.00
This means to me that I need to try to buy multiple items from 1 supplier (eg. leads and terminals or preferably a kit) to keep the post/ freight to an acceptable?? level.
This leads (no pun intended) me to asking: Is there a clip arrangement that will bolt on in place of the conduits that factory finished leads will clip into. Not 100% original but practical?
I must add a thanks to Mart and Scooder for their assistance.
Do the Rajah terminals screw on or crimp on?

JSeery · 09-03-2016, 06:20 PM

Screw on, the wire pushes in and the screw on part clamps it. Similar to an AN fitting if your familiar with them.

09-03-2016, 06:18 AM	#9
Mart Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Solihull, England. Posts: 8,755	Re: H.T. lead lengths Good call on the coax aerial lead, Mart. Mart.

09-03-2016, 07:33 AM	#10
Bluebell Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Tauranga, New Zealand Posts: 726	Re: H.T. lead lengths Hi Guys, What I am looking at is Magnacor Electrosports 7mm cable.

09-03-2016, 05:40 PM	#12
Bluebell Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Tauranga, New Zealand Posts: 726	Re: H.T. lead lengths Hi Jseery, I have never seen this type of lead and I just thought that I was reducing the chances of trouble by having 50% of the terminations done by the people with the correct tooling.Henry's conduit complicates this exercise. You may appreciate that everything I buy stateside almost doubles in price because of the freight and then again because of the exchange rate. We get about U.S.60 cents for our N.Z.$1.00 This means to me that I need to try to buy multiple items from 1 supplier (eg. leads and terminals or preferably a kit) to keep the post/ freight to an acceptable?? level. This leads (no pun intended) me to asking: Is there a clip arrangement that will bolt on in place of the conduits that factory finished leads will clip into. Not 100% original but practical? I must add a thanks to Mart and Scooder for their assistance. Do the Rajah terminals screw on or crimp on?

09-03-2016, 06:20 PM	#13
JSeery Member Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 16,132	Re: H.T. lead lengths Screw on, the wire pushes in and the screw on part clamps it. Similar to an AN fitting if your familiar with them.

09-02-2016, 02:29 AM	#1
Bluebell Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Tauranga, New Zealand Posts: 726	H.T. lead lengths Hi, Can anyone tell me the lengths of each of the H.T. leads for a crab (42 on) distributor using the original steel conduits, and using right angle terminations? I have requested a P&A from Magnacor, and they have asked for the lengths required. I'd rather over estimate and cut to length when they arrive, as I can't buy made up both ends leads, because of the conduits. All make sense?

09-02-2016, 02:39 AM	#2
Brian Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Masterton, New Zealand Posts: 3,834	Re: H.T. lead lengths What is a P&A? And who is Magnacore? __________________ Unfortunately, two half wits don't make a whole wit!

09-02-2016, 02:43 AM	#3
Brian Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Masterton, New Zealand Posts: 3,834	Re: H.T. lead lengths I assume, upon contemplation that P&A is price and availability. I've got a roll of copper HT lead here, how about I send it up to you, use what you want, send me anything thats left? __________________ Unfortunately, two half wits don't make a whole wit!

09-02-2016, 02:22 PM	#4
Bluebell Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Tauranga, New Zealand Posts: 726	Re: H.T. lead lengths Hi Brian I am after some good quality lead that is not copper wire. I have bought a pertronix trigger thing (reluctor?) and they(Pertronix) say it cannot be used with copper ht leads. It is something to do with magnetic flux and the spiral wound fine resistance wire puts it at right angles to the lay of the wire (which is apparently o.k) I've never seen the stuff and known about it. It seems to be a std thing with electronic ignition. I'm a learner. I know your going to say, go with the points,but I have a few reasons that I think justify going this way.

09-02-2016, 06:13 PM	#5
cmbrucew Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: North of sandy ago, CA. Posts: 2,064	Re: H.T. lead lengths Bluebell 1937 to 1941 Ford #1 & #5 red and black 22.5" #2 & #6 black and blue 26.5" #3 & #7 black and green 30.5" #4 & #8 black and yellow 35.5" Hope this helps. Bruce __________________ Works good Lasts long time

09-02-2016, 07:04 PM	#6
Bluebell Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Tauranga, New Zealand Posts: 726	Re: H.T. lead lengths Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Thanks Bruce, but the Crab is different. Two leads cross over from the conduits

09-03-2016, 02:57 AM	#7
Mart Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Solihull, England. Posts: 8,755	Re: H.T. lead lengths I ordered new leads for a crab, but in my case they were suppressed leads with fixed ends so I did not use conduits. I got the lengths a bit short on the two longest ones. This is not much help, other than I would advise dummying the job up with something like washing line or electrical wire until you have a nice tidy looking setup, then measure those to get the lengths you need. If you err on the long side you can always lose an inch or so in the routing, but it looks a bit poor if they are short and you have to pull them straight to reach the plug (like mine). That said, this is a stock application, so as long as you have the correct type conduits, compatible with a crab, someone may have the lengths listed somewhere. Mart.

09-03-2016, 06:04 AM	#8
scooder Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 2,593	Re: H.T. lead lengths To go with my mate Mart here, I've used TV coax aerial lead, cheap in long lengths, similar size and shapes the same as HT leads and gives you a real "through the conduit" fit. Just incase you wernt aware. If your using original style conduits check the diameter of your fancy shmancy leads, most of them are 8mm rather than 7mm. Don't sound much, but needs dealing with. Real tight in the conduit, and sometimes won't fit the distributor cap/caps. Have drilled the caps 8mm for fit in the past. There's enough "meat" in the cap terminals for this. Martin.