V8 distributor question

[36coupe]

I just finished reading a bunch of threads on different type of distributors but I'm still confused. I have 3 -38-48 flatheads.
A 38 running car and it has a a helmet with 2 bolts on the coil.
A 46 or 47 cdn truck engine that has a crab distributor
I picked up a junk motor and it has a helmet looking distributor with 3 bolts holding on the coil.

What year ran what type of distributor and did Canadian models follow the US built one.
Thanks

[scooder]

1938-1941 helmet
1942 crab cap
1945 up used the same base as above but with a two piece "rabbit ear" cap.
Martin.

[Mac VP]

Coils:
1932-36 use the low dome 3 screw coil (mounted on top of the distributor)
1937-41 use the high dome 2 screw coil (mounted on top of the distributor)
1942-48 use the coil mounted to a steel bracket on the front of the LH cylinder head

[36coupe]

Originally Posted by Mac VP

Coils:
1932-36 use the low dome 3 screw coil (mounted on top of the distributor)
1937-41 use the high dome 2 screw coil (mounted on top of the distributor)
1942-48 use the coil mounted to a steel bracket on the front of the LH cylinder head

Okay
Thats what I have
I have an extra and it is the 32-36 distributor.
I understand now

[36coupe]

Originally Posted by scooder

1938-1941 helmet
1942 crab cap
1945 up used the same base as above but with a two piece "rabbit ear" cap.
Martin.

A 47 would have the rabbit ear cap.

What years used the crab cap, just 42. ?
Did a lot of people retro fit a crab cap to later flatheads?

[42 1/2ton]

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Originally Posted by 36coupe

A 47 would have the rabbit ear cap.

What years used the crab cap, just 42. ?
Did a lot of people retro fit a crab cap to later flatheads?

1942-1944 cars, commercial, and trucks all used the crab.

Ed

[Ken/Alabama]

I have a helmet distributor that has two holes for the coil but they are diagonal from each other rather than straight across. Is this a 36 issue ?

[Brian]

Ken, yes 1936 only; partial production used that distributor with a flat top coil.

[36coupe]

Originally Posted by 42 1/2ton

1942-1944 cars, commercial, and trucks all used the crab.

Ed

Okay that explains my 47 truck engine with a crab and my friends 47 car with the rabbit ears.

[scooder]

A 1947 truck should have rabbit ear cap.
Martin.

[v8fordman]

I don't like to engage in correcting threads, but a '32 is not a low dome coil.

[36coupe]

Originally Posted by scooder

A 1947 truck should have rabbit ear cap.
Martin.

Might be a 46 canadian truck. I can't remember

[corvette8n]

Over the last 70-75 years a lot of parts get swapped around, it's hard to know what's original any more.

[JM 35 Sedan]

Originally Posted by Ken/Alabama

I have a helmet distributor that has two holes for the coil but they are diagonal from each other rather than straight across. Is this a 36 issue ?

That version of the helmet distributor was only used in late '36 production.

[grumppyoldman]

Tell me what a helmet distributor looks like, my dist. has two caps one for each bank of cyl. It is still 6 volt 1941 Ford V-8, coil screws are straight across from each other. It has the battery in the neg. ground position. Some people tell me to change the wires on the coil, swap neg. and pos. leads. There is only one terminal on top of the coil. On the bottom of the coil inside dist. there are two contact points that can't be changed, one is a carbon spring loaded brush the other is a very stiff spring. As long as I'm driving everything's fine after shut-down it won't start until about 15-20 min. cool-down. Now can anyone tell me what's going wrong. I just got the car and don't know may have been changed. Al

[BUBBAS IGNITION]

this may help

http://www.bubbasignition.com/32-41-helmet-build.html

[grumppyoldman]

Yep that's what I have, just sent you an e-mail, waiting to here back. Al