before reading remember there are no stupid questions only stupid answers. I have never pulled and A dist out. but it appears it goes in one way and one way only to get the hold down bolt in place. has anyone tried to come up with a rotateable dist to set timing while running, rather than moving the cam? I know its worked for millions of A's for 80 years and I'm not going to out guess ole Henry, but....
Distributor adjustment
- Thread starter cfordman
- Start date
Purdy Swoft
Well-known member
There is a locating pin on the original distributor housing. Because of the locating pin and the fact that the original distributor used a manual advance, rotating the distributor as with modern cars wouldn't be possible without mods, a different cap and some type of automatic advance setup. I use Mallory distributors on the coupe and speedster and these distributors get rotated when setting the timing because the points cam can't be adjusted.
great answer, tks Purdy. someone before me removed the timing lever on the steering col, so I improvised with an old style choke cable to adjust the timing arm. I'm using a late model cap with plug wires. so if I modify the locating pin it all may work. or get a Mallory. the car came with the modern points and I'm thinking of going back with a stock dist after all ive read about the top plate troubles.
modela@aol.com
Well-known member
You can try a Model B distributor as well. It has auto advance with spinning weights. You don't need the lever and you can use your cap and wires as well.
machine girl
Senior Member
the FS distributor we found is the way to go, call mel at fs hes a great help.cfordman you could get yourself into a lot of problems messing with the advance like that.
James Rogers
Well-known member
If you go this route, make sure you use a B timing cover so you can get the timing right.