47 Distributor vs Overheating

M

Michael Wilcox

Junior Member
I've read a lot about ford flathead overheating problems along with head gasgets, radiator, thermostats and waterpumps as possible problems. I'm wondering if the distributor advance on a 59A block could be out of adjustment and cause overheating. That's the dual point distributor mounted on the front of the engine. The vacuum is routed to a 3 carburator manifold but everything else is stock. Its a new engine and radiator with rebuilt water pumps. I also tested the stock thermostats and they open just right.
Anyone have any experiences with distributor advance causing overheating?
Thank You
 
The place to start is with the graduations on the advance plate set midway with the line on the housing. I run on 91 octane here in NZ, so pushing the screw down one graduation below halfway (that is, clockwise) works pretty good. Because moving the screw alters the points, ideally the distributor should be removed and the points reset to 16thou.
Another thing which can affect cooling is how well the block was cleaned when rebuilt. I pulled half a bucket of casting sand and rust scale and sludge out of my block by removing the water pumps and working a length of sharpened 1/4" rod up inside, also down from the decks, followed by a water blaster wand. Runs so cool now I might remove the fan.
 
The distributor can be a problem and many times is. The internal mechanism will get crudded up and not allow the distributor to advance. If you can establish a timing mark, you can use a timing light to see if you do have advance. Otherwise the distributor needs to be removed and checked on a machine.
 
Retarded timing causes overheating on a flathead , not over advance..
You said it has a three carb manifold which means the vacuum brake doesnt work ( assuming its a crab distributor) try adjusting the brake nut out all the way and see if that helps . The advance on the crab is pretty reliable so i would guess that part last for sure. Also i would be concerned with three carbs and a air leak ( lean causes over heating etc), are the carbs all working , is one or two blocked off ???
Or is this a later engine 49-53 with loadamatic???
 
It is the crab distributor on the earlier engine and all 3 carbs are working with progressive linkage. I'll try the adjustment suggested. I'll also check the internals and make sure they are in good shape. If I knew where to send the distributor for adjustment, I'd probably do that. There's no place in Boise Idaho that I know of.
Thank You
 
BUBBAS IGNITION said:
Retarded timing causes overheating on a flathead , not over advance..
You said it has a three carb manifold which means the vacuum brake doesnt work ( assuming its a crab distributor) try adjusting the brake nut out all the way and see if that helps . The advance on the crab is pretty reliable so i would guess that part last for sure. Also i would be concerned with three carbs and a air leak ( lean causes over heating etc), are the carbs all working , is one or two blocked off ???
Or is this a later engine 49-53 with loadamatic???
Click to expand...
I have found many crab distributors with sticky, non-working advance mechanisms.
 
Where it sticks is where the distributor cam rotates on the central shaft to advance...just take that apart, clean and grease.
Look at vac brake adjustment too...for most circumstances, screw adjuster out all the way BY HAND as it is easy to pop the spring seat off of screw if you crank it out with a wrench. Turn it back in maybe a scant two turns, as some drag on the plate stabilizes it against random drifting.
 
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