42-46 distributor bolts

F

Flathill

Member
Can't fine the 2 distributor mounting bolts for my crab style distributor.
For a 1946 - 24 stud Ford engine.
Anyone know the size needed ?
And are they anything special like (fully threaded or partly) ?
Do I use washers between the bolt head and the distributor plate ?
Flathill
 
5/16" 18 threads x 1 1/4"- the length is a guess... So get 1" also... Nothing special. Washers optional... If yes, they need to be small... I like 8mm wave type (German)lockwashers...
Karl
 
For factory "correct" ones, you might want to contact Roy Nacewicz. I'm pretty sure he has the original style w/appropriate washers. Karl's approach will work just fine. Just presenting another way to approah the problem.
 
I put studs in mine. That way it is easy to make sure you have it aligned properly. Place crab on studs then turn the rotor till it seats correctly and the distributor sits flat on the engine, then put the nuts on and tighten.
 
Way back in time there was a Ford bulletin on distributor bolts. There was a larger shoulder on the 5/16-18 bolts to take movement out of the distributor. G.M.
 
Lawson Cox said:
I put studs in mine. That way it is easy to make sure you have it aligned properly. Place crab on studs then turn the rotor till it seats correctly and the distributor sits flat on the engine, then put the nuts on and tighten.
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Hey Lawson thats a great idea,i will use it on the next time i remove it. Should also work on helmet ones,dont see why not. thanks ken ct.
 
G.M. said:
Way back in time there was a Ford bulletin on distributor bolts. There was a larger shoulder on the 5/16-18 bolts to take movement out of the distributor. G.M.
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This is correct.
Here's a pic of the bolts Ford recommended. These bolt eliminate much of the rotational movement and do make quite a difference. Regular bolts and studs will no be as precise but lots of guys use them as mentioned above. Ford also wanted them used on the timing cover also.
 

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I think they were also used to locate shifter casting on a couple years...
They do tighten things up as the service bulletin explains. JWL did post a few years back pointing out that this was nit picking, though, as the amount of possible movement with cheapy full threaded hardware was VERY small in degrees.
 
Lawson Cox said:
Yep, it will work on both. Cuts down on broken distributor bodies.
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Havent broke one yet but have had a few guys insist it went on correctly ,but how did you break the housing i dont know is usually the answer i get yea right. ken ct lol
 
A trick to initially locate the distributor to the timing cover is to screw in a length of all-thread in one hole, then replace it with the correct shoulder bolt after the other bolt is installed.
 
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