Installation Kong distributor

[3W Hank]

As I try to update my old cool DSM coils, I got into several issues.

After get a Scintilla magnet fixed ( long story ) I went over to a Kurten LZ V12 converted to V8, both are in the era I want my 32 5W coupe at, and I has a 'thing' try to use only Ford parts and old speedparts.
That get it complext.

But then I got into the Kong distributor and found that was my way.
Ronsroadster did find a very nice unit at a collectors sale in Ca, but it was no coils or condesers included ( but cap was nice and it look very nice )
I saw a article on Kong and it was a picture with the old Mallory DSM coils the wire comes straight out ( not from the top )
So I found them on eBay and one had the brass big condencers ( marked 36 ) and mount was in brass aswell. Really nice look.
So I needed locate up another.
-Tuban might had some but he was in Florioda and was out of his own new ones.
As I know this parts can be hard test ( cold vs warm ) and the can be 'splitted' to.
It can be a time bomb this old parts..
Anyway I thought he had 2 NOS but when he came back home he found 2 but not NOS, but one showed up had a split.
But he had 2 new ones.
Common sense is to use them ( new )
But if I can I would use old ones, but on my car its new stuff as pistons, valves, springs, tires etc so there is new parts.
Idea the car would fire up and start...

But the old ones had a nice brass/plastic and I love that old look.
Anyway, let's see how it turns out. I can say I learned its time consuming build up a Henry Hot-Rod with parts at parts.. ( but it's fun to )
Will I ever be done, I'm soon 60 ) I actually don't think I ever will be done and I spend a fortune so far on most junk parts ( I do newer blame sellers etc as this is 80-90 years old stuff ) But I might be done ( who knows ) but I like get the parts see my idea in head come togheter.

Ok over to topics.
The Kong has a Lincoln cap ( I think ) but see on the picture, how i'ts set upp.
Now the sparkplug wires comes out top/bottom, should it not be from the side ?
Can this be chanched inside ?
( I asked Ron but he had no idea.

I really love this set up with the Kong and the dual coils and the brass condensers, real LA as the way I like it.
The magnet was to 'much' Italy for me and the Kurten did feel little poor, but the Kong was new made parts, but all this 3 was sold at Bell Auto late 40's.

I still keep all of them.
If I ever build a "Karl Orr" 32 roadster ( hmm ) the Kurten ill be cool.

 

[Flathead Fever]

July 1951 Hot Rod Magazine has a cover photo of an engine with a Kong distributor; I knew Kong and used to drive all the way into LA just to see him. I have a distributor but it's missing its cap. The cap is worth as much as the entire distributor. Be extremely careful with that old bakelite cap. I can't remember since my stroke, but I think they were a one year only 1930s Lincoln V8 that they only make about 400 of them. The caps are just about impossible to find.

Here is the magazine cover on eBay that shows the Kong distributor.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2673621749...MIz5qi6aywjwMVp7IDAB3YhSfGEAQYASABEgJPHvD_BwE

 

[petehoovie]

As I try to update my old cool DSM coils, I got into several issues.

After get a Scintilla magnet fixed ( long story ) I went over to a Kurten LZ V12 converted to V8, both are in the era I want my 32 5W coupe at, and I has a 'thing' try to use only Ford parts and old speedparts.
That get it complext.

But then I got into the Kong distributor and found that was my way.
Ronsroadster did find a very nice unit at a collectors sale in Ca, but it was no coils or condesers included ( but cap was nice and it look very nice )
I saw a article on Kong and it was a picture with the old Mallory DSM coils the wire comes straight out ( not from the top )
So I found them on eBay and one had the brass big condencers ( marked 36 ) and mount was in brass aswell. Really nice look.
So I needed locate up another.
-Tuban might had some but he was in Florioda and was out of his own new ones.
As I know this parts can be hard test ( cold vs warm ) and the can be 'splitted' to.
It can be a time bomb this old parts..
Anyway I thought he had 2 NOS but when he came back home he found 2 but not NOS, but one showed up had a split.
But he had 2 new ones.
Common sense is to use them ( new )
But if I can I would use old ones, but on my car its new stuff as pistons, valves, springs, tires etc so there is new parts.
Idea the car would fire up and start...

But the old ones had a nice brass/plastic and I love that old look.
Anyway, let's see how it turns out. I can say I learned its time consuming build up a Henry Hot-Rod with parts at parts.. ( but it's fun to )
Will I ever be done, I'm soon 60 ) I actually don't think I ever will be done and I spend a fortune so far on most junk parts ( I do newer blame sellers etc as this is 80-90 years old stuff ) But I might be done ( who knows ) but I like get the parts see my idea in head come togheter.

Ok over to topics.
The Kong has a Lincoln cap ( I think ) but see on the picture, how i'ts set upp.
Now the sparkplug wires comes out top/bottom, should it not be from the side ?
Can this be chanched inside ?
( I asked Ron but he had no idea.

I really love this set up with the Kong and the dual coils and the brass condensers, real LA as the way I like it.
The magnet was to 'much' Italy for me and the Kurten did feel little poor, but the Kong was new made parts, but all this 3 was sold at Bell Auto late 40's.

I still keep all of them.
If I ever build a "Karl Orr" 32 roadster ( hmm ) the Kurten ill be cool.

 

[3W Hank]

My cap is supernice and I hope it works.
All this parts I has is a expensive timebomb ;- ))

As the magazines shows the sparkplug would go out sideways, but my is located 90 degree off.
It might be the SDM coils in the magazine but seems shorter.

 

[3W Hank]

Today I learned this unit did miss a snapring in behind and the bolt one drag the timing was on the wrong place, so now the wires come out of side.
One thing borrow me.
Se the rotor.
It's not straight ?
This Kong is actually a 2 distributor in one unit so rotor must be straight, this cant be correct.
Ideas ?

 

[petehoovie]

Today I learned this unit did miss a snapring in behind and the bolt one drag the timing was on the wrong place, so now the wires come out of side.
One thing borrow me.
Se the rotor.
It's not straight ?
This Kong is actually a 2 distributor in one unit so rotor must be straight, this cant be correct.
Ideas ?

 

[Bored&Stroked]

I think the rotor is correct . . . I've seen them on these distributors just like yours. Keep in mind that it is the points location that determines when it fires, so I'd take a close look at the points and see when they open in relation to rotor position (side to side).

 

[3W Hank]

Thanks Dale, just got confused.

 

[itslow]

Se the rotor.
It's not straight ?
This Kong is actually a 2 distributor in one unit so rotor must be straight, this cant be correct.
Ideas ?

There are straight and angled rotors that look the same if someone isn't paying attention to the angle difference. They also have a common shaft keying so it's easy for one to get replaced for the other.

You do need the straight rotor, though. They can be hard to find.

You also need to pay attention to the shaft keying type. There is one that is shaped like a D and the other that uses a tab and notch. They are otherwise identical.

The DuCoil distributors use a rotor of the same shape. I don't recall if they use the D or the notched shaft key, though.

 

[3W Hank]

It's impossible to know the history of this distributor and if the rotor came on later and was just installed wrong.
If do fit on the axle, but see picture.
Is it call a ; D-Shape or ?
It look like 15 degree diff from straight on at a ruff check.

Question ;
Who are living today that has parts and know of this distributors ?
I talked to a buddy here that has several of them, and he showed me the very early that look little diffirent ( not the same cap etc ) but my is basic the same, and this style/cap was showed in Bell Auto catalog 1949.
Anyway, he had also one of this cap/rotor, and he used it but did not run, so he found a NOS but when he got it it was as his old and my with the 15 degree diff, so he located another one. Now straight.
He said as Dale it can be correct on some.
It weas also another thing with this rotor in design so it do fit my cap.

Gee, it's not easy all this...building a rather era correct old Hot-Rod, Ha !

 

[petehoovie]

It's impossible to know the history of this distributor and if the rotor came on later and was just installed wrong.
If do fit on the axle, but see picture.
Is it call a ; D-Shape or ?
It look like 15 degree diff from straight on at a ruff check.

Question ;
Who are living today that has parts and know of this distributors ?
I talked to a buddy here that has several of them, and he showed me the very early that look little diffirent ( not the same cap etc ) but my is basic the same, and this style/cap was showed in Bell Auto catalog 1949.
Anyway, he had also one of this cap/rotor, and he used it but did not run, so he found a NOS but when he got it it was as his old and my with the 15 degree diff, so he located another one. Now straight.
He said as Dale it can be correct on some.
It weas also another thing with this rotor in design so it do fit my cap.

Gee, it's not easy all this...building a rather era correct old Hot-Rod, Ha !

 

[itslow]

I've never seen a Kong (or a DuCoil) with an angled rotor. They have all been the straight rotor. This includes my Kong and DuCoils.

As you can see, your distributor would require one for a D keyed shaft. It looks like the DuCoils use the notched variant. You might be able to come up with a way to use a notched rotor on the D shaft, though, which would allow you to rob a rotor from a DuCoil.

 

[3W Hank]

As I said my friend here had the same case and angle rotors.
One has to wonder why and how they got into this Kongs ?
Is no one on works this units today and learned from the old guys ?

 

[itslow]

As I said my friend here had the same case and angle rotors.
One has to wonder why and how they got into this Kongs ?
Is no one on works this units today and learned from the old guys ?

I suspect it's probably a case of people needing rotors, finding the angled one somewhere (swap meet, parts catalog, internet listing, etc), and not realizing it's not the correct part. The two rotors - angled and straight - are very similar in appearance, with exception of the slight angle at the one electrode.

Parts books wouldn't have been any help since a "Kong Championship Ignition" wouldn't have been listed as an application for X rotor.

 

[3W Hank]

Yep, that might be the case.
I will try get someone in car electronics take a look and see if Kong had the idea in design for the angleded one, but I guess I must try look for a straight one.
So where to find one ?
I think I read/see a guy in Indy area working on old race electronics.
Ideas who ?
If ever some read this and has parts, please contact me.

 

[Tim Ayers]

Getting it on a distributor machine will tell you if it's working or not. If it does not have the right rotor, the strobes will show misfires, etc. This may be a good first step before trying to track down rare parts.

 

[KiWinUS]

I believe the angled twin coil style rotors are for a different Angle v/8 engine than a flathead. I have a couple of Kings and several DuCoils and parts yes all of mine have straight rotors also.

 

[3W Hank]

I found this photos in my phone, dont know from where, se the old style Kong ( knurled) edge, se both new and old has straight rotors.

 

[petehoovie]

I found this photos in my phone, dont know from where, se the old style Kong ( knurled) edge, se both new and old has straight rotors.

 

[3W Hank]

How cool is not this old Kong distributors !
I would love found the early one ( seems like the same cap as I has ) but I’ll seen a early with another cap.
Look on this roadster from 1948.

Bell Auto catalog 1949, hard to say if ’Glendale’ or ’Champion’ tag.
Then they sold the DSM coils and the ignition terminals I has.