Crab Ignition

Platy1987

Junior Member
Hi guys, I have a question I got my ignition today, I think she's wrong. Can someone tell me if I get this but maybe to my engine. Thank you from Germany
 

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You have the late style cam and gears , the distributor is for an early style with the direct drive distributor , the dist. you have mounts directly flat to the timing cover, where as the engine requires the conventional type, or post type of distributor. in order to use that distributor the cam will have to be the slotted type used in the U.S.A. until 1948. I would like to have that type of cover, it is designed to have a more accurate adjustment on the cam end play. I have some of the Load A Matic Distributors and covers if you need to replace as a set, I do not know if the Load -A- Matic distributors will fit the cover you have , someone will let us know here pretty soon.
FORDESTES
 
Yep, "Fordestes" is 100 percent right. I will add this : If you want to run a "crab-style" cap on a post distributor (8BA) there is a way to do it. Mallory made a marine distributor with crab cap for small block Chevrolets. Get one of these (they are common and cheap on eBay), and one of the guys one here ("CharlieNY" or "Bubba") to covert it to 8BA use. And no, the crab cap won't fit on a stock or regular Mallory distributor; I've tried it.:mad:
 
Yes, I got the crab from Bubba today. I think she was accidentally reversed. I just do not know if I can send them back from Germany. I think I need the 49-53 Delco. It was probably a misunderstanding
 
I'm confused by what I see. The last picture showing the cover has some kind of adaptation in place where a standard later (post 48 USA) distributor should be. I would like to see that item removed from the cover so we can see it better.
 
The Engine is a 255 french Flathead
 

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Yes, I got the crab from Bubba today. I think she was accidentally reversed. I just do not know if I can send them back from Germany. I think I need the 49-53 Delco. It was probably a misunderstanding

Yep as you ordered a two bolt crab electronic distributor. Thats what you have with the red cap.

I think the easiest way to get you handled after looking at the pictures is to change the cover to the US Ford front cover and use a post style distributor...Not a problem i have it all , however the shipping was approx $70 on this order.....Send me a pm and we can get it worked out , more than happy to bail ya out.............. :eek::)
 
The French SUMB engines had a distributor that is hard to source parts for here in the USA. Most folks over here just convert them. For a crab type, a person need the 59 type front cover and an 59 series type cam shaft. For an 8BA type, a person would only need the front cover and the distributor. 8BA types can also use a Chevy or Chrysler converted distributor. Older Mallory 8BA replacement types will also work but are only centrifugal advance where the converted GM & Chrysler types are both centrifugal and vacuum advance.

Too bad you don't have a 29T engine. They used a Bosch distributor but it may also be difficult to source parts for.
 
I think these from Bubba here these Delco are probably the best that would have to fit on my cover right? then I will sell the crab here in Germany
 

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I would like to see whats under the four bolt gear on the camshaft thats in the engine..
Some of you engine guys might know is behind that drive gear a crab drive slot, then you would only need a cover change ????????????
 
The French motors have an 8BA type cam - the gear isn't bolt on. To run a crab type (like I did in mine) you have to change to a 59A style cam and fit a 2 bolt cover.

The parts shown are typically french flatty - the intermediate adaptor used sometimes, although I had one where the distributor fitted directly in. I don't know if a 8BA style distributor fits directly into the French timing cover.

Mart.
 
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