The Ford Barn

Bobant · 04-13-2015, 10:03 PM

1930 model. Pulled the distributor shaft out as I was having problems keeping car in time. It is a one piece shaft, not a lower and upper shaft. The shaft was just touching the drive seat and actually jumping out and not turning. Is this one piece shaft a modification by former owner who is now deceased or what's the story. The shaft needs to be 3/8 inch longer to be fully engaged. Distributor was tight against head so that was not a issue. I see in the parts book the only shaft offered is a two piece . Advise wanted. Thanks in advance.

RonC · 04-13-2015, 10:19 PM

The two piece was oem. Aftermarket suppliers made one piece replacement shafts.

Mike V. Florida · 04-13-2015, 10:22 PM

Very common reproduction part.

Tom Wesenberg · 04-13-2015, 11:06 PM

Buy the correct two piece shaft, and while you have the shaft out you'd probably want or need to install new bushings.

MrBruce · 04-14-2015, 06:22 AM

Good time to rebuild the distributor. Put the new shaft that you can oil the top bushing. Get rid of the one piece shaft and put it back original. You can buy the body exchange from Bratton with the new shaft in and finished

29er · 04-14-2015, 01:28 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Here's an old thread that may be pertinent to problems installing a new lower shaft:

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showth...ht=lower+shaft

Bill W summarized the problem:

"the old long dist. shaft had a big crusty build up on it, and when the shaft was pulled up through the small hole in the head gasket, the crud scraped off & fell into the hole in the oil pump gear indexing hole" thus the shaft end did not seat properly and the distributor body did not fit flush on top of the head.

04-13-2015, 10:03 PM	#1
Bobant Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Bedford, Va Posts: 50	Distributor shaft 1930 model. Pulled the distributor shaft out as I was having problems keeping car in time. It is a one piece shaft, not a lower and upper shaft. The shaft was just touching the drive seat and actually jumping out and not turning. Is this one piece shaft a modification by former owner who is now deceased or what's the story. The shaft needs to be 3/8 inch longer to be fully engaged. Distributor was tight against head so that was not a issue. I see in the parts book the only shaft offered is a two piece . Advise wanted. Thanks in advance.

04-13-2015, 10:19 PM	#2
RonC Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 1,868	Re: Distributor shaft The two piece was oem. Aftermarket suppliers made one piece replacement shafts.

04-13-2015, 10:22 PM	#3
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: Distributor shaft Very common reproduction part. __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

04-13-2015, 11:06 PM	#4
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Distributor shaft Buy the correct two piece shaft, and while you have the shaft out you'd probably want or need to install new bushings.

04-14-2015, 06:22 AM	#5
MrBruce Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 310	Re: Distributor shaft Good time to rebuild the distributor. Put the new shaft that you can oil the top bushing. Get rid of the one piece shaft and put it back original. You can buy the body exchange from Bratton with the new shaft in and finished

04-14-2015, 01:28 PM	#6
29er Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Oregon Posts: 465	Re: Distributor shaft Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Here's an old thread that may be pertinent to problems installing a new lower shaft: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showth...ht=lower+shaft Bill W summarized the problem: "the old long dist. shaft had a big crusty build up on it, and when the shaft was pulled up through the small hole in the head gasket, the crud scraped off & fell into the hole in the oil pump gear indexing hole" thus the shaft end did not seat properly and the distributor body did not fit flush on top of the head. Last edited by 29er; 04-14-2015 at 01:34 PM.