Distributor Cap Advance Lever Slot

Easier to read
dist-notch.jpg
 
Be sure to check the width of the advance arm on the upper distributor plate. I bought a new upper plate and found the advance arm was much wider than my original which reduces the available advance travel.
 
sdp.fordbarn said:
Be sure to check the width of the advance arm on the upper distributor plate. I bought a new upper plate and found the advance arm was much wider than my original which reduces the available advance travel.
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Yes, that's a good point, and it will send me in search of an entirely different original Ford blueprint or two, for the breaker plate.
 
I seem to remember reading that the Model A engine with a stock 4.2 head can only utilize 28-32 degrees of crankshaft advance. High compression heads use even less. 20 degrees of distributor advance will be ~40 degrees of crankshaft advance. If the spark advance lever on the upper plate is just touching the distributor body at full retard, then no more than 7 to 8 notches are required, and wouldn't that be at high speeds of 50 plus or there about????

I've wondered about this. If you're using a 2 tooth Gemmer, a small window can possibly work fine if you're never driving at max speeds.
 
Get the column clamp at the box really tight! There is a possibility of the crank handle kicking back while hand starting if the column rotates on the housing and goes unnoticed! The spark lever, even all the way up will still have the timing advanced if the timing is set correctly and the column rotates a little c.c.w. Ask me how I know….Chris, in Boulder
 
I have four, two in cars and two in extra stock. All four have 1” slots. One has Ford script on it, likely a repro. I’ve had these for years and don’t remember where I found ‘em. The two on the cars seem to function as they should.
 
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