The Ford Barn

johncusano · 03-13-2018, 06:29 PM

Will the crab style replace the Y style cap that has the 8 plug wires jammed into the two holes? With out to much modification, 1948 ford with 59 engine,dont know the model of the dist. its stock two bolt. Thanks for any help.

fordwife · 03-13-2018, 06:40 PM

Yes,but the distributor has to have two clips to hold it on rather than the bail like your dist. would have.

FortyNiner · 03-13-2018, 06:48 PM

The stock 46 y-style disty has two hold down clips. There was a bail on the helmet version.

[Edit: there is also a bail over the top cap in addition to the clips holding the lower cap]

johncusano · 03-13-2018, 06:57 PM

Ok thanks,do you know if the rotor's are the same

fordwife · 03-13-2018, 07:53 PM

No, they are different. Most ford suppliers will have both types.

JM 35 Sedan · 03-13-2018, 08:21 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

The '42 crab cap distributor had two spring clips that held the cap in place. The rabbit ear cap with two openings for wires had a single bail that held its two caps to the distributor body. The earlier helmet distributors had two bails, one on each side to hold its two inner and two outer caps in place.
Many of the suppliers sell a kit with all parts and pieces required to convert the rabbit ear caps back to a crab cap. You also need to change the rotor.

FortyNiner · 03-13-2018, 08:28 PM

All I know is that my 46 rabbit ear distributor cap has two hold down clips and a bail over the upper cap.

38bill · 03-13-2018, 11:25 PM

Yup, you just need the two clips and the rotor that are made for the crab cap to convert the two part dist cap. Check to make sure the crab wires will clear the belt(s).

Mart · 03-14-2018, 07:27 AM

I have a crab type distributor on my French motor.
The clip conversion parts are easily available.
I bought a new set of plug wires and spec'd 90 degree terminals coming out of the cap. This keeps the wires out of the way of the pulleys.

Mart.

Charlie ny · 03-14-2018, 08:06 AM

John,
Before you reinstall the distributor on the motor check for rotor internal
interference with the cap. The crab cap registers on the outside of the distributor
housing and the later type cap registers on the inside of the distributor housing.
Charlie ny

BUBBAS IGNITION · 03-14-2018, 09:35 AM

Third Generation Ford has the clips you need and they also have the cap and rotor. Great people to deal with , they have a ebay store......

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-1942-46...BXaHwB&vxp=mtr

JM 35 Sedan · 03-14-2018, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BUBBAS IGNITION

Third Generation Ford has the clips you need and they also have the cap and rotor. Great people to deal with , they have a ebay store......

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-1942-46...BXaHwB&vxp=mtr

I'll second that!! Just received an order from 3rd Gen, and will place another soon.

JM 35 Sedan · 03-14-2018, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FortyNiner

All I know is that my 46 rabbit ear distributor cap has two hold down clips and a bail over the upper cap.

You are correct. There are two small bail spring clips on the outside of inner cap, and one large bail that goes over top of the outer cap.

flatjack9 · 03-14-2018, 10:22 AM

The rotor is the same as the 49 - 53 rotor.

johncusano · 03-14-2018, 11:39 AM

Thanks for all the info. Parts are on order.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

richard crow · 03-14-2018, 02:45 PM

there is a different set of wire looms used on the crab dist. eng.if you want a neat set up you will need them

03-13-2018, 06:29 PM	#1
johncusano Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Wethersfield Ct. Posts: 43	Crab style Distributor Cap Will the crab style replace the Y style cap that has the 8 plug wires jammed into the two holes? With out to much modification, 1948 ford with 59 engine,dont know the model of the dist. its stock two bolt. Thanks for any help.

03-13-2018, 06:40 PM	#2
fordwife Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 287	Re: Crab style Distributor Cap Yes,but the distributor has to have two clips to hold it on rather than the bail like your dist. would have.

03-13-2018, 06:48 PM	#3
FortyNiner Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: u-rah-rah-Wisconsin Posts: 1,137	Re: Crab style Distributor Cap The stock 46 y-style disty has two hold down clips. There was a bail on the helmet version. [Edit: there is also a bail over the top cap in addition to the clips holding the lower cap] __________________ 19 and 49 F1 - jes' like Henry II built 1946 Deluxe - as Henry built it Last edited by FortyNiner; 03-13-2018 at 08:32 PM.

03-13-2018, 06:57 PM	#4
johncusano Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Wethersfield Ct. Posts: 43	Re: Crab style Distributor Cap Ok thanks,do you know if the rotor's are the same

03-13-2018, 07:53 PM	#5
fordwife Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 287	Re: Crab style Distributor Cap No, they are different. Most ford suppliers will have both types.

03-13-2018, 08:21 PM	#6
JM 35 Sedan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Near Rising Sun, Maryland Posts: 10,858	Re: Crab style Distributor Cap Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) The '42 crab cap distributor had two spring clips that held the cap in place. The rabbit ear cap with two openings for wires had a single bail that held its two caps to the distributor body. The earlier helmet distributors had two bails, one on each side to hold its two inner and two outer caps in place. Many of the suppliers sell a kit with all parts and pieces required to convert the rabbit ear caps back to a crab cap. You also need to change the rotor. __________________ *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* Last edited by JM 35 Sedan; 03-13-2018 at 08:27 PM.

03-13-2018, 08:28 PM	#7
FortyNiner Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: u-rah-rah-Wisconsin Posts: 1,137	Re: Crab style Distributor Cap All I know is that my 46 rabbit ear distributor cap has two hold down clips and a bail over the upper cap. __________________ 19 and 49 F1 - jes' like Henry II built 1946 Deluxe - as Henry built it

03-13-2018, 11:25 PM	#8
38bill Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,166	Re: Crab style Distributor Cap Yup, you just need the two clips and the rotor that are made for the crab cap to convert the two part dist cap. Check to make sure the crab wires will clear the belt(s).

03-14-2018, 07:27 AM	#9
Mart Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Solihull, England. Posts: 8,755	Re: Crab style Distributor Cap I have a crab type distributor on my French motor. The clip conversion parts are easily available. I bought a new set of plug wires and spec'd 90 degree terminals coming out of the cap. This keeps the wires out of the way of the pulleys. Mart.

03-14-2018, 08:06 AM	#10
Charlie ny BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 3,019	Re: Crab style Distributor Cap John, Before you reinstall the distributor on the motor check for rotor internal interference with the cap. The crab cap registers on the outside of the distributor housing and the later type cap registers on the inside of the distributor housing. Charlie ny

03-14-2018, 09:35 AM	#11
BUBBAS IGNITION Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: SPEEDWAY INDIANA Posts: 4,148	Re: Crab style Distributor Cap Third Generation Ford has the clips you need and they also have the cap and rotor. Great people to deal with , they have a ebay store...... https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-1942-46...BXaHwB&vxp=mtr __________________ If it Makes Spark, we do it !!!! www.bubbasignition.com [email protected]

03-14-2018, 10:22 AM	#14
flatjack9 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oshkosh, Wi Posts: 4,527	Re: Crab style Distributor Cap The rotor is the same as the 49 - 53 rotor.

03-14-2018, 11:39 AM	#15
johncusano Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Wethersfield Ct. Posts: 43	Re: Crab style Distributor Cap Thanks for all the info. Parts are on order. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

03-14-2018, 02:45 PM	#16
richard crow Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,770	Re: Crab style Distributor Cap there is a different set of wire looms used on the crab dist. eng.if you want a neat set up you will need them