crab dist parts Q...

hardtimes

hardtimes

Well-known member
I've taken several pics of a 'crab' dist. Need source of parts to 'rebuild'.
Are there any parts vendors for this type dist?

Also, the inside of the black cap is brown colored...is this normal or what's up with this?
 

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These distributor's are pretty durable .You can get parts from Macs ,Rotor. points .Cap.(dont get there cheap points .)Check that the bushes are not to loose . piston leather can be made up or purchased some were .The brown in the cap maybe something someones done or could be factory , cap,Set the points at 15 and slide the advance plate up one notch . This will get you going till you get it set up on a strobe machine,
 
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Some of the early caps were brown inside. The replacements are not (black in & out). If you need someone to time the distributor I suggest Bubba's Hot Rod Shop. He post here and does a very good job.
 
We would have anypart that you would need, however you may buy the contacts from napa # cs47 ( these are the very best money can buy) condensor, cap and rotor are also available from napa as well.
Search the forum as i have written many posts on how to rebuild these units...
 
I just went through this on my motor. Started with a used '48 distributor and changed it to a crab cap for clearance. First time I got it on the freeway it broke the rotor. Put new bushings in and reamed them to eliminate any wobble. Turns out the new caps are not very good, kinda out of round. I ended up filing about .020 off the rotor tip and its been fine ever since. You might be better off with NOS parts instead of the "stuff" available now....
 
nostalgia59 said:
I just went through this on my motor. Started with a used '48 distributor and changed it to a crab cap for clearance. First time I got it on the freeway it broke the rotor. Put new bushings in and reamed them to eliminate any wobble. Turns out the new caps are not very good, kinda out of round. I ended up filing about .020 off the rotor tip and its been fine ever since. You might be better off with NOS parts instead of the "stuff" available now....
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The NAPA or Van Pelts caps are very good , i grind a little off every rotor to prevent it hitting.
The fit of the cap often isnt the problem its the end play in the crab being a little on the loose side and the rotor moves outward to hit the top contacts on the cap...
 
BUBBAS IGNITION said:
The NAPA or Van Pelts caps are very good , i grind a little off every rotor to prevent it hitting.
The fit of the cap often isnt the problem its the end play in the crab being a little on the loose side and the rotor moves outward to hit the top contacts on the cap...
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Hey Jim:

How much is a little? Good information to know so I can avoid the same issue.

Tim
 
barnfind08 said:
I have what you need n.o.s.
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Hey barnfind08,
You guys are the BEST:)! It's always...ask here and we shall receive,eh! Great info..thanks all!
Yeah, I was super lucky in a recent 'try' at building a helmet dist for my '36 coupe..but ran into installation problems, i.e.- fat/swollen hands; darn near NO wiggle room..using old brain info from 40 yrs ago:o, etc. But , you know what, like said, got lucky and it runs out like a new '36:D

So, looking ahead, I felt that my chances of doing a road repair with the helmet...are slim/none. That's why found that crab will fit with room to spare. Only problem is getting the crab and adaptor plate..3 to 2 hole?

In my excitement to get crab...I finally got BIT by a barner. Good money for an eastern crab...that wasn't as said to be and bad use of scarce $.
Hey, I ain't crabbin tho..just saying. Hmm, have always been told that Ma crabs are the best..now wonder:D

At the risk of gassing...storytime:p
So, yesterday go to 94 yr old father in laws to ensure that he is properly hydrated:rolleyes:. He asked to hear the '36 flathead. Happy to ablige, I (thanks God)opened the driver door, reached for the pushbutton start and said...'look..no pushing on gaspedal/no choke start'. Pushed for millisecond on button and she FIRED on first cylinder. OMG..she's in gear:eek::eek::eek:. She lurched once, then twice(with door open)! Staying calm as she headed for the side of his house...about 10' away:eek::eek::eek:. I stuck my brake foot in the door and applied appropriate pressure to do the deed:D
Turned her off and just paused for a moment. I must have been a different shade of tan..or something...as the old fart just sat there in his wheelchair...smiled and said 'everything turned out great', 'let's hear her again..after some refreshment' !!
Point of the story is....can a guy TUNE his flathead....too good? I say yeah.
 
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I understand Bob Drake offers a good cap with copper contacts. have seen one that really looks good.
Bubba is the best on rebuilds.
Job Lot hasn't been mentioned. They have great parts.
 
The crab distributor properly set up is the best ignitionsystem you can buy for the early Fords. These distributors have the right machanical advanve and a very efective vacume retard system, That MSD and Mallory dosn't Have. Running a street engine with out a vacuum component in the ignition advance gives poor economy. Might just as well do it right with the price of gas today.
 
Ol' Ron said:
The crab distributor properly set up is the best ignitionsystem you can buy for the early Fords. These distributors have the right machanical advanve and a very efective vacume retard system, That MSD and Mallory dosn't Have. Running a street engine with out a vacuum component in the ignition advance gives poor economy. Might just as well do it right with the price of gas today.
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Ok ! I am told that the 'crab' era entails the years '42 thru '48. But is there one model that is BEST or better than other years...and if so, how to identify the best model to rebuild :confused:
 
The key to all these distributors in the advance mech. The 11A seems to be the best, but they all have a better advance curve than anyhing on the market today. The vacuum piston must be in proper working order in order to take advantage of this unit.
 
hardtimes said:
Ok ! I am told that the 'crab' era entails the years '42 thru '48. But is there one model that is BEST or better than other years...and if so, how to identify the best model to rebuild :confused:
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There seems to be two crabs out there from 42 to 48 , one is aluminum and the other is cast iron.
I believe ( someone may know) that the cast iron ones are truck units from a given model year, the inside seems to all be 11A units and offer 11 degrees of advance or 22 degrees of engine advance curve.

The stock springs ( assuming they are in good shape and havent been modified etc) work very well with a slight drag on the vacuum brake.
Could very well be one of the best Ford ever used especially after a complete clean and lube. The best most accurate adjustment is on a distributor machine running at approx 2000 rpm..:eek::)
 
I have one of those caps that is brown inside.
It runs good. If the older stuff is in good condition it can very often be better than new stuff. I also bought a couple of the napa caps last time I was in the USA, havn't used one yet, though.

Mart.
 
Mart said:
I have one of those caps that is brown inside.
It runs good. If the older stuff is in good condition it can very often be better than new stuff. I also bought a couple of the napa caps last time I was in the USA, havn't used one yet, though.

Mart.
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Hey Mart,
Thanks for confirming that that brown color inside my crab cap is not just someone messing with paint:) !

I guess that there is no one in the Ford world who knows the 'skinny' on why these caps are BROWN inside, and/or if that paint was some kind of improvement..against say carbon tracking/whatever! Guess we'll never know,eh.
 
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