1941 camshaft oddity

[njwhig]

I recently purchased a 1941 flathead engine with a broken, but odd camshaft--it has a snout projecting in the front to engage the distributor. I can't find a replacement for it. What is this thing? A regular camshaft misses the distributor by half an inch. I'm rebuilding two engines--one 1939 block for a '39 convertible sedan, and this '41 block for a '42 deluxe fordor. The '42 will be no problem with the standard cam and '42 distributor, but I can't figure out how to use the '39 helmet distributor without finding another one of these snouted camshafts...which don't seem to exist anywhere... Can somebody explain to me what's going on here?

Many thanks for any help...

[Mart]

You can use a "button" to convert a short snout cam to a long snout.

Mart.

[scooder]

That "odd" camshaft is a regular long nose cam for bolt on cam gear, goes with a three bolt distributor. Most of these early cams were press on gear type, I don't know when the change happened to bolt on, but as you found out, it did.
Your choices are replace the broken one with a good one, can't believe there that rare, I have three or four in my pile. Replace with a press on type plus gear. Or as Mart said, use a short nose cam with a button adaptor. Usual vendors will have um.
Martin.

[larry/Texas]

It is PN 11A-6280 and called a distributor to camshaft adapter. Check with one of the regular suppliers of early Ford parts. Plus or minus $ 15.00 and they work.

[Walt Dupont--Me.]

Use the flat nose cam, Speedway has the button, probably Job Lot also. Walt

[njwhig]

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Thanks to everyone for the help. I am now a lot less confused (at least about camshafts...)

[Karl Wolf]

Originally Posted by njwhig

I recently purchased a 1941 flathead engine with a broken, but odd camshaft--it has a snout projecting in the front to engage the distributor. I can't find a replacement for it. What is this thing? A regular camshaft misses the distributor by half an inch. I'm rebuilding two engines--one 1939 block for a '39 convertible sedan, and this '41 block for a '42 deluxe fordor. The '42 will be no problem with the standard cam and '42 distributor, but I can't figure out how to use the '39 helmet distributor without finding another one of these snouted camshafts...which don't seem to exist anywhere... Can somebody explain to me what's going on here?

Many thanks for any help...

People must have a bunch of early cam cores... I do...
Or, as guys are saying, buy the adapter...

Karl