46 Merc Distributor

46ford

46ford

Senior Member
I'm replacing the ignition wiring (spark plug wires) on my '46, and wonder if it's possible to use the "crab" distributor cap on this engine? I just don't relish the thought of fishing those wires through the rubber tubing and cap cover...

Also, bought the wire set from NAPA and noted they are not copper-cored. Any thoughts on that? Old timers always told me to go with the copper.

Thanks!
 
Crab cap fits, but you need to change to the style of bail (clip) that it's used with. The plug wires will be fine. Not saying they're better than copper, but if the suppression wire is of good quality, you won't notice the difference in performance.

Bob
 
He'll also need to change the rotor. The 21A crab cap needs the 21A rotor to work. The side retaining bail gets changed to the two separate spring clips for the crab cap. We stock all these items.
 
The 46 fan belt interferes with the plug wires on a crab type dist.I tried it on my 46 merc. and went back to the 46-48 system.Phil
 
Complaints on the crab types were that it can get fouled with water easier and the plug wires have to be dressed differently. Like trainguy mentioned, they don't fit like the later type set up but they can be made to work more like a 1942 installation with the right wire dressing methods.

The carbon type wires have a better resistive quality than copper core that virtually eliminates the radio noise that copper core wires can cause while still passing high tension voltage well enough to give acceptable ignition performance. Copper cores types give the best ignition voltage at the plugs but must be well shielded to eleminate the RF noise that they can cause.

Kerby
 
Wow the parts I ordered arrived today! So I'll know soon how well it installs. I expected to need to dress the wires away from the belt area.

I wish I had gotten the copper wires (not too worried about RF noise in that car) but I'll put the carbon wires in and see how it goes.
 
Some stuff...1942 and 1946-8 use the same pulleys and fan and belts.
I have done this on a 1948...long ago, don't remember what terminals, wire routing except for crossing over the Wrong-Side wires above the distributor. On a real '42, all the wires went up the chute into the tubes, then crossed over across the manifold via holes that don't exist in the late tubes. I don't remember having any real troubles with routing wires safely, and I know I did it in one session without any need for extra stuff or deep thoughts.
 
There is a gasket inside the cap,and i also have the rubber nipples that go on the wires into the cap. ken ct.
 
I too have changed my '48 Merc. to the crab style. Tired of running the plug wires through those tunnels. I used Moroso wire separators to keep the wires far enough away from the belt and guide the wires back up to the tubes. WORKS GREAT and makes tune ups alot easier.
 
Do you remember the part number of the Moroso wire seperators you used? I have an electronic 6V crab distributor on the 59A I am building and will have to address wire routing soon. It looks like the wires need to be pulled back closer to the block to avoid the fan belt. A picture of a successful installation would be helpful.
 
Fits great. I'm going to route the wires thru the original metal tubes when I get things buttoned up but for now there is no interference with the belts or pulleys.

Finally I have great spark! Still won't start, but I'm just starting to work on it.
 
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