Early Distributor Identification

Hoop

Hoop

Well-known member
I have two early 30's distributors, with the 3-bolt coils. I noticed that the housing castings are different. Notice the indentation below the oiler.

Is this just two different suppliers, or is there some other significance ... maybe different years?

Thanks for any help.

distributordimpl.jpg
 
Hard to tell since you did not post a pic of the side that mounts to the block.The left might be 37-41.The right is 33 - early 36.
 
"Hard to tell since you did not post a pic of the side that mounts to the block.The left might be 37-41.The right is 33 - early 36."


deuce lover,

Sorry. Here you go.

distribdimple2.jpg
 
I too have been told the indent was early 33 I have no way of confirming this.
Fords aluminum casters were assigned numbers that often appear on their castings inside a circle such as the intake manifold and the heads. 1= Aluminum Corp of America,2= Bohn Aluminum, 3=National Bronze. Often there are minor differences between the parts cast, most likely due to the interpretation of notes on the prints. Ford could accept the variant on a once only case and then have the supplier change the variation and continue to supply.
I too have one of the distributors with the indent identical to yours, it is clearly marked "2" on the bottom. What is the marking on yours??
 
Now we're cookin'.

Mine has a 2 cast in a circle on the bottom of the distributor just forward of the mounting flange ... with a stamped R in a circle to the right of it.

On the top by the coil, is a cast 15 forward of the flange.

(Also, trying to determine what makes a '32 distributor distinctive.)

Thank you.
 
The 32 dist has a pull out oiler down in front and no port cast in for the vaccum line.As you can see the casting down in front is peaked out and there was a soft plug under it.Instead of the screw adj for the vaccum the adj nut(that the screw replaced) was tapped for the line.Sorry for the poor photo but took it out of a book since those dist are to expensive to keep on the shelf.
 

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"Sorry for the poor photo ... "

Great photo. Thank you, Duece, and for the description.

Trying to fill in the many gaps in my knowledge. Swap meets are better when you are not dumb as a stump.
 
another point of identification on the 32 distributor is the thickness of the mounting ears for attaching to the front of the engine. original 32 distributors have very thin arms, making the ears very easy to break if not installed properly. the ears became much thicker with the 33-36 distributor.
 
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