1937 Distributor Problem

Robert/Texas

Robert/Texas

Well-known member
I bought my ’37 fordor about 13 years ago. It had just under 60k miles on it then and just over 63k miles now. It always ran and started well but one day it wouldn’t start. I figured that it was a distributor problem and after I removed the distributor, I found that the tabs on both of the inner and outer caps were broken off and the areas around these tabs were severely scuffed. I also noticed that the little O-rings were missing and there was no sign of their remains.

I sent the distributor to CharleNY and he repaired all of the innards. I bought new inner and outer caps and am now trying to install them. I was trying to get one of the little O-rings on but it broke as it was going on. Does anyone have a suggestion for this or is there something else I could use to replace them?

Thanks, Robert
 
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Use a regular O ring in a larger section or a gromit ,take your cap to the local plumbers shop and fish through the boxes .a rubber washer ,
 
Thanks Ted. I found a rubber washer which fits well but I'm a little concerned with how it will hold up under heat.
 
Oldtimer trick, the mason jar rubber washers fit and work well and are available at your local grocery store.
 
Thanks again to all of you but if it’s not one thing it’s another. I had several inside distributor caps in my junk pile and two of them looked good. The one with no markings went on the passenger side and fit OK but the one I tried on the driver side fit OK too but the tang that fits in the distributor slot was not in the correct orientation. This cap is marked 80 or 08, depending on how you look at it. I ordered two new caps today from C&G and I hope that this solves my problem. Thanks, Robert
 
The caps for 32-early 36 are turned right angle to how the late 36-41 caps sit. You can tell the difference between the two designs by the diameter of the brass posts, early are larger.
 
That would be a very tiny Mason jar for the lid washer to fit on the post of the outer cap to retain the inner cap.
 
Thanks 38 coupe, that explains it. The brass posts on the cap I was trying to use on the driver side of the distributor are noticeably larger.
 
Robert/Texas said:
Thanks again to all of you but if it’s not one thing it’s another. I had several inside distributor caps in my junk pile and two of them looked good. The one with no markings went on the passenger side and fit OK but the one I tried on the driver side fit OK too but the tang that fits in the distributor slot was not in the correct orientation. This cap is marked 80 or 08, depending on how you look at it. I ordered two new caps today from C&G and I hope that this solves my problem. Thanks, Robert
Click to expand...

The later cap would be marked 68 for 36-39 not 08. Earlier caps would be marked 18 for 32-36.
 
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