Installing a 42-48 crab dizzy

busmania

busmania

Well-known member
Yall know I like my stromberg distributor but a while back when I was having issues everyone thought it was my stromberg so I bought an original crab distributor. After realizing my issue at the time was not my stromberg (it was the fuel pump) , I put the ford dizzy on the shelf. Well, now I’m bored and I want to try it (stromberg still running mostly strong but once the engine is heated up things get a little dicey and I feel like it misses a little. I’m back to wondering if it’s the stromberg.)

So, I have a few questions…

1. Where does the condenser mount? Photo?
2. Can I use my 50000 volt (or whatever the f it is) coil that I’m currently using on the stromberg or do I need something else?

I’ll post photos in a bit of what I’m working with. Another motivation for the switch is I want to run the original colored style wires. I think they look cool. Haha.
 
ages%2F8381%2FFED-4248-1__57508.1730132971.386.513.jpg

"Where does the condenser mount?" Photo
 
Re the coil. You sure don't need a high-output coil on a flathead.

Your coil should be chosen based on the resistance of the coil's primary winding. Needs to be appropriate for the ignition system on the car:
12 volt, use a 3 ohm coil
6 volt , use a 1.5 ohm coil
6 volt fed thru a ballast resistor (as per original), use a 0.8-1.0 ohm coil
 
Pete, thanks!

Here’s what I’m working with. I’m probably just going to install it and see how it runs.

If anyone can help me in terms of my coil question, that would be great!

IMG_5129.jpg

IMG_5130.jpg
 
Jay, thank you. any recommendations on where and what coil to buy? I’ll do my homework next. Thank you everyone as always.

That said, I’m not trying to buy a bunch more stuff. This is more of an experiment. Will my fancy dancy high output coil work? Just to test things out.
 
If your on 12v, Bubba seemed to use and like the Bosch 00012 blue 3 ohm coil. That's what I plan to run on the crab.
 
busmania said:
That said, I’m not trying to buy a bunch more stuff. This is more of an experiment. Will my fancy dancy high output coil work? Just to test things out.
Click to expand...
Yes, the coil you had with the Petronix distributor should work the same with a points distributor. But I could be wrong, not sure what Petronix specifies. To be sure, I would put an ohmmeter across the + and - terminals on the coil to see what that coil's primary winding resistance is.
 
If that adapter plate is a Speedway item, check the fit. They often have to have a little bit filed off the square corner for the vacuum boss. It hits...I think one of the T cover bolts IIRC, any way take a look, you'll see it
 
Speaking of vacuum. I assume I need to add it somewhere? Photos of vacuum line?

Petronix coil is indeed 1.5 ohm. If that doesn’t work, I do have a Bosch blue coil on the vw sitting next to the 40 that I can try too.
 
Last edited:
busmania said:
Petronix coil is indeed 1.5 ohm. If that doesn’t work, I do have a Bosch blue coil on the vw sitting next to the 40 that I can try too.
Click to expand...
If you are 12 volt, the 1.5 ohm coil will result in 8 amps going thru the points. Too much! Should be around 4 amps. Use the Bosch.

But put an ohmmeter on that Bosch coil. Bosch may have made 1.5 ohm coil for 6 volt VW's and painted it blue.
 
There is a vacuum line from the timing cover to intake. Here is a pic, but I have a crab dist on a '41 which was originally equipped with a helmet distributor. The metal tube is longer, I need to shorten it if I were to use a stock intake. I will be using an Edmunds 2x2 which doesn't have a port on the drivers side. Just need to find a vacuum source. If I remember correctly, the fitting into the timing cover is a special fitting. Third Gen sells the line, but it's 34-41.
 

Attachments

  • thumbnail - 2025-08-01T210428.462.jpg
    thumbnail - 2025-08-01T210428.462.jpg
    40.2 KB · Views: 263
This whole vacuum thing has me wanting to re think my experiment and say forget it. Haha. Seems complicated. Looking at my timing cover (original 40) there is no place for a vacuum line? If that’s the case, where do I plug vacuum into?

I also am running an Edmund’s 2x2 intake.
 
Since your using a 3 bolt to 2 bolt adapter, the port is on the end of the adapter. The Edmunds may have a port elsewhere on the intake.
 

Attachments

  • 20250801_220204.jpg
    20250801_220204.jpg
    57.7 KB · Views: 249
Last edited:
big deuce said:
There is a vacuum line from the timing cover to intake. Here is a pic, but I have a crab dist on a '41 which was originally equipped with a helmet distributor. The metal tube is longer, I need to shorten it if I were to use a stock intake. I will be using an Edmunds 2x2 which doesn't have a port on the drivers side. Just need to find a vacuum source. If I remember correctly, the fitting into the timing cover is a special fitting. Third Gen sells the line, but it's 34-41.
Click to expand...
571106
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top