The Ford Barn

John Kennedy · 01-08-2012, 01:33 PM

My friend gave me an early distributor, has the two caps on it, think its 33-36 era. Pretty neat setup, 3 bolt mounting, coil mounts in it....

I also have my stock crab style. 1948, 2 bolt mounting....

My question is this: What distributor setup would be best for daily street driving, can it be converted to a durable hall-effect or similar, and has vacuum advance?
I'm not opposed to swapping out front covers and such. Just gathering parts as I go.

It will be triggering a neatly-hidden Megasquirt injection system and I want durability, we're not going racing! (much

)

Thanks!
John

Ol' Ron · 01-08-2012, 01:39 PM

Bubba, keep the crab.

ken ct · 01-08-2012, 02:04 PM

If the crab as you have use it. If its the 46-48 rabbit eared type i would convert to the 42 which is the true crab one. Change to the 42 1 piece cap,the rotor and add the clips to hold the cap on and you got the best of both worlds,and the small rubber boots on the plug wire cap ends. I have all the parts if you need or any of them. ken ct.They are reliable units. ken ct PM or email [email protected]

BUBBAS IGNITION · 01-08-2012, 04:48 PM

I would join with the others and say the crab is the way to go......

BillM · 01-08-2012, 05:31 PM

Quote:

can it be converted to a durable hall-effect or similar, and has vacuum advance?

Here is a link to my conversion to a magnetic pickup; a better vacuum advance setup than the stock vacuum brake would be nice, but gets complicated.
http://home1.gte.net/wgmumaw/Distrib...rsionBills.htm

Ol' Ron · 01-08-2012, 06:24 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

This is a great conversion and works very well. However, do not use a hi output coil as the cap and rotor wont like it.

John Kennedy · 01-09-2012, 07:07 AM

Good info, thanks guys! I'll just keep my original '48 then.

JM 35 Sedan · 01-09-2012, 10:21 AM

I agree with the others. It's hard to beat the reliability of a quality rebuilt and tuned crab distributor. Also hard to beat the looks of the crab IMO. I'm planning to run a crab rebuilt by Bubba or a Harmon Collins set up on my 59 284 CI engine.

1oldtimer · 01-10-2012, 01:33 AM

I have a Bubba built pertronix crab and it works great.

John Kennedy · 01-10-2012, 08:02 AM

While we're talking distributors, what's a Spaulding setup worth? Same friend has the distributor and two red finned Spalding coils for a flathead.

BUBBAS IGNITION · 01-10-2012, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Kennedy

While we're talking distributors, what's a Spaulding setup worth? Same friend has the distributor and two red finned Spalding coils for a flathead.

Would love to see some pictures on this one.....got some pics of the unit and the coils???

John Kennedy · 01-10-2012, 02:47 PM

I'll be at his shop after work today, I'll try to grab some pics

Slick Steve · 01-10-2012, 08:41 PM

I would love to see some Spalding Coils!!!

ken ct · 01-11-2012, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slick Steve

I would love to see some Spalding Coils!!!

Hey Slick,wheres the carb ??? ken ct. hi bubba.

John Kennedy · 01-12-2012, 07:03 AM

Here's the Spalding setup. The coils are marked Delco-Remy, nowhere could I find the name Spaulding on it.

01-08-2012, 01:33 PM	#1
John Kennedy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Tucson Arizona Posts: 301	Best distibutor choice for my 1948 59AB? My friend gave me an early distributor, has the two caps on it, think its 33-36 era. Pretty neat setup, 3 bolt mounting, coil mounts in it.... I also have my stock crab style. 1948, 2 bolt mounting.... My question is this: What distributor setup would be best for daily street driving, can it be converted to a durable hall-effect or similar, and has vacuum advance? I'm not opposed to swapping out front covers and such. Just gathering parts as I go. It will be triggering a neatly-hidden Megasquirt injection system and I want durability, we're not going racing! (much) Thanks! John __________________ Building a 29 Sedan on 32 chassis........ very slowly....

01-08-2012, 01:39 PM	#2
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,860	Re: Best distibutor choice for my 1948 59AB? Bubba, keep the crab.

01-08-2012, 02:04 PM	#3
ken ct BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: stratford,ct Posts: 5,971	Re: Best distibutor choice for my 1948 59AB? If the crab as you have use it. If its the 46-48 rabbit eared type i would convert to the 42 which is the true crab one. Change to the 42 1 piece cap,the rotor and add the clips to hold the cap on and you got the best of both worlds,and the small rubber boots on the plug wire cap ends. I have all the parts if you need or any of them. ken ct.They are reliable units. ken ct PM or email [email protected]

01-08-2012, 04:48 PM	#4
BUBBAS IGNITION Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: SPEEDWAY INDIANA Posts: 4,148	Re: Best distibutor choice for my 1948 59AB? I would join with the others and say the crab is the way to go...... __________________ If it Makes Spark, we do it !!!! www.bubbasignition.com [email protected]

01-08-2012, 06:24 PM	#6
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,860	Re: Best distibutor choice for my 1948 59AB? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) This is a great conversion and works very well. However, do not use a hi output coil as the cap and rotor wont like it.

01-09-2012, 07:07 AM	#7
John Kennedy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Tucson Arizona Posts: 301	Re: Best distibutor choice for my 1948 59AB? Good info, thanks guys! I'll just keep my original '48 then. __________________ Building a 29 Sedan on 32 chassis........ very slowly....

01-09-2012, 10:21 AM	#8
JM 35 Sedan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Near Rising Sun, Maryland Posts: 10,858	Re: Best distibutor choice for my 1948 59AB? I agree with the others. It's hard to beat the reliability of a quality rebuilt and tuned crab distributor. Also hard to beat the looks of the crab IMO. I'm planning to run a crab rebuilt by Bubba or a Harmon Collins set up on my 59 284 CI engine. __________________ *John* *"Never give up on what you really want to do. The person with big dreams is more powerful than one with all the facts". Albert Einstein*

01-10-2012, 01:33 AM	#9
1oldtimer Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Orange County, Ca. Posts: 685	Re: Best distibutor choice for my 1948 59AB? I have a Bubba built pertronix crab and it works great. Last edited by 1oldtimer; 01-12-2012 at 11:57 PM.

01-10-2012, 08:02 AM	#10
John Kennedy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Tucson Arizona Posts: 301	Re: Best distibutor choice for my 1948 59AB? While we're talking distributors, what's a Spaulding setup worth? Same friend has the distributor and two red finned Spalding coils for a flathead. __________________ Building a 29 Sedan on 32 chassis........ very slowly....

01-10-2012, 02:47 PM	#12
John Kennedy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Tucson Arizona Posts: 301	Re: Best distibutor choice for my 1948 59AB? I'll be at his shop after work today, I'll try to grab some pics __________________ Building a 29 Sedan on 32 chassis........ very slowly....

01-10-2012, 08:41 PM	#13
Slick Steve Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Indy Posts: 60	Re: Best distibutor choice for my 1948 59AB? I would love to see some Spalding Coils!!! __________________ "Street rods have a Chevy in front and a can of wax in the back.......Hot Rods have a Flathead in front and a box of tools in the back"-- Fred Offenhauser Check out my blog on my Flathead project! http://myav8.blogspot.com/