The Ford Barn

pgerhardt · 03-01-2015, 02:33 PM

I am sitting here looking at snow falling outside AGAIN, and thinking of spring. I'll be swapping out my current distributor (with modern points and condenser on the upper plate) for a rebuilt one with the stock point system. I have the choice of two distributor body/caps. I have an old (but still in good shape) Ford script body/cap that I picked up at swap meet years ago. I also have a NORS brown body/cap which would add a little color to the engine compartment. So which do you think would be coolest?

dumb person · 03-01-2015, 02:56 PM

The brown one.

C26Pinelake · 03-01-2015, 03:06 PM

Why the brown one ?
Wayne

ronn · 03-01-2015, 03:27 PM

OK then, the black one...................

31 Model A · 03-01-2015, 03:44 PM

Bakelite items in other fields are worth more when the item was in brown. Don't know about this though. I'd go with the black..............for looks.

bikejunk · 03-01-2015, 03:45 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I run a brown NOS as well, for the last 2,500 miles so far, really nice quality ,

C26Pinelake · 03-01-2015, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dumb person

The brown one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1930 coupe

I would run the one that fits the best on the distributor and has the best rotor to contact gap. Also run both of them at night in the dark and look for stray sparks.

Now that is a sensible reply ! Thanks, Wayne

BRENT in 10-uh-C · 03-01-2015, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bikejunk

I run a brown NOS as well, for the last 2,500 miles so far, really nice quality ,

You mentioned a brown NOS one. Did Ford actually make a brown one?

Juggler · 03-01-2015, 04:49 PM

English ones are brown

Fred · 03-01-2015, 05:01 PM

Ok, Neither of what you show are for your car.. The "Brown One" is a After Market Reproduction one.. The "Black One" has a After Market Script Base.. The Coil Wire Tower Top is "Original Ford", But only used in Early 1928..

pgerhardt · 03-01-2015, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRENT in 10-uh-C

You mentioned a brown NOS one. Did Ford actually make a brown one?

No. I said NORS New Old Replacement Stock. It is photographed on the box of the company who produced it back in the day.

pgerhardt · 03-01-2015, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred

Ok, Neither of what you show are for your car.. The "Brown One" is a After Market Reproduction one.. The "Black One" has a After Market Script Base.. The Coil Wire Tower Top is "Original Ford", But only used in Early 1928..

Fine point judging aside, I would think that either could have been found on my 29 tudor in 1929. I believe that since the brown one is made of Bakelite not a modern plastic it is most likely a period replacement while a 1928 distributor body/cap could have easily sat on a dealers shelf until 1929.

In any event using the one that functions the best seems like the best and most helpful advice.

Dusty · 03-01-2015, 08:43 PM

Do they make them in green?

Tom Wesenberg · 03-01-2015, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dusty

Do they make them in green?

No, but you could spray paint them silver to see if the paint really contains any metal.

ODFever · 03-01-2015, 08:56 PM

Check both with an ohm meter. I do not know what the reading should be to determine if it's good or not, but someone here on FB might know. Pick the one that works. I'm sure you'd rather drive your car rather than being stranded on the side of the road.

pgerhardt · 03-01-2015, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dusty

Do they make them in green?

LOL! I hope that coupe has been in at least one Saint Patrick's Day Parade!

glenn in camino · 03-01-2015, 10:31 PM

Originals have only one notch to locate in the distributor base,

tbirdtbird · 03-02-2015, 12:01 AM

ohms should be zero

MikeK · 03-02-2015, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbirdtbird

ohms should be zero

Following up on that thought, checking across terminals with a megger (high voltage insulation resistance tester) is also helpful. I have found several beautiful original dizzy bodies that fail internally, reading only a few thousand ohms, when I set my megger on 1KV. Checked with a standard battery powered ohmmeter they appeared fine, reading infinity between terminals.

Dusty · 03-02-2015, 02:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pgerhardt

LOL! I hope that coupe has been in at least one Saint Patrick's Day Parade!

No buy I'm working on that.

03-01-2015, 02:56 PM	#2
dumb person Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: South pacific island Posts: 1,724	Re: Which would you use? The brown one. __________________ <Link> This is how we roll<Link> "I'm Convinced that no one really reads posts anymore; they just fabricate what they think the post says then ramble on about red herrings."--Bob Outcasts rules of old cars #1 Fun is imperative, mainstream is overrated #2 If they think it is impossible, prove them wrong #3 If the science says it impossible you are not being creative enough. #4 No shame in recreating something you never had #5 If it were not for the law & physics you would be unstoppable

03-01-2015, 03:06 PM	#3
C26Pinelake BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Michigan / Ontario border, Sarnia, Ontario. 50 miles from Detroit and 150 from Toronto. Posts: 5,800	Re: Which would you use? Why the brown one ? Wayne

03-01-2015, 03:27 PM	#4
ronn Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJ Posts: 6,785	Re: Which would you use? OK then, the black one...................

03-01-2015, 03:44 PM	#5
31 Model A Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Here I am in front of Todd's Grocery in 1931 selling Grit newspapers Posts: 2,548	Re: Which would you use? Bakelite items in other fields are worth more when the item was in brown. Don't know about this though. I'd go with the black..............for looks. __________________ "Bullshit and Brilliance Comes with Age and Experience" "Hey Lady, ya wanna buy a Grit?" "If you don't learn to laugh at trouble, you won't have anything to laugh at when you're old" Will Rogers

03-01-2015, 03:45 PM	#6
bikejunk Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: beautiful down town Passaic NJ Posts: 293	Re: Which would you use? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I run a brown NOS as well, for the last 2,500 miles so far, really nice quality ,

03-01-2015, 04:49 PM	#9
Juggler Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Phoenix AZ/Bath UK Posts: 481	Re: Which would you use? English ones are brown Last edited by Juggler; 03-01-2015 at 05:23 PM.

03-01-2015, 05:01 PM	#10
Fred BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: California, Maryland Posts: 1,421	Re: Which would you use? Ok, Neither of what you show are for your car.. The "Brown One" is a After Market Reproduction one.. The "Black One" has a After Market Script Base.. The Coil Wire Tower Top is "Original Ford", But only used in Early 1928..

03-01-2015, 08:43 PM	#13
Dusty Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lincolnton, Georgia Posts: 723	Re: Which would you use? Do they make them in green?

03-01-2015, 08:56 PM	#15
ODFever Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Central Florida Posts: 116	Re: Which would you use? Check both with an ohm meter. I do not know what the reading should be to determine if it's good or not, but someone here on FB might know. Pick the one that works. I'm sure you'd rather drive your car rather than being stranded on the side of the road. __________________ ODFever 1930 Ford Model A Town Sedan "Alyssa"

03-01-2015, 10:31 PM	#17
glenn in camino Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Camino, CA. Posts: 3,086	Re: Which would you use? Originals have only one notch to locate in the distributor base,

03-02-2015, 12:01 AM	#18
tbirdtbird BANNED Join Date: May 2012 Location: inside your RAM Posts: 3,134	Re: Which would you use? ohms should be zero __________________ '31 180A