Questions about 1941 distributors.

vtwinsideways

vtwinsideways

Senior Member
Working on a '41-2 Merc flathead to put in my wife's '41 Model 19C. Doing complete resto, so we want things as correct as possible (within reason). It came with a later model crab style dizzy. My questions are, what exactally am I looking for? Were the Fords and Mercs the same and what are the differences between years? I seem to remember reading that there were some minor, although very desirable, improvements during that time frame. I haven't been able to find the article I read that in though. Thanks. Luke
 
You've got some things to figure out on what you have. The 37-41 Ford distributors were essentially the same but the 1941 version had the improved performance curve. The bigger issue is......what do you have now?

Your engine is either a 41 or a 42. Since there are significant differences between the two, it can't be both. The camshaft in the 42 has a shorter snout. It's matched up with the two bolt timing cover and the 42-44 crab style distributor. You could have a two bolt cover with a spacing adapter behind your crab distributor. Or perhaps you have a 41 motor and 41 long cam, with a 42 timing cover and spacing adapter. Or another combination of parts to fit the 42 distributor you presently have.

You should have no problem finding a core 41 type distributor, and there are several rebuilders who have the skills to set it up for you. Charlie Schwendler in New York comes to mind for that.
 
To identify '37-41 types: 1937-40 is stamped "68" on rear of main shaft (at cam drive). 1941 is stamped with an 11 to ID the new advance assembly.
 
Thanks fellas. I'll have to dig through the box of parts that came with the engine. The dizzy and cover had already been removed before I got to it, so wether the parts are all still there is in question, also in question is wether the distributor I have was ever mounted to this engine. The engine passed through at least two other builders before I aquired it. I'll try to clean up what I have and get some pics on here the first of next week. Thanks again. Luke
 
I can Send you some pics of my 41 ford distributor if that is helpful I have been painfully living distributor issues on my car for more then 2 years but almost resolved. The original distributor and coil are not the best but it was stock equipment which I have wanted to maintain. Skip Hainey located in FL has recently helped me get this 2 plus year issue behind me. Skip is an excellent distributor rebuild as well and has been so helpful to me
 
OK, so it appears I'm looking at a'42 Merc. 2 bolt, pancake, short snout and dual belts. Are there any differences in the block itself or can the '41 goodies be swapped in, assuming I can acquire them?
 

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vtwinsideways said:
OK, so it appears I'm looking at a'42 Merc. 2 bolt, pancake, short snout and dual belts. Are there any differences in the block itself or can the '41 goodies be swapped in, assuming I can acquire them?
Click to expand...


The distributor shown ( 2 bolt crab with 2 piece rabbit ear cap ) is a 46 to 48. To use the correct three bolt helmet the cover and distributor must be changed.
Assuming you are set on the orginal helmet look etc,
 
And you'll need a cam adapter button that slightly lengthens the '42 cam to right length for 3 bolt distributor and front cover. Minor expense, no trouble.
Best reason to keep the '42-8 distributor (same points and advance as the 11A) is simply easy servicing...you can slide out the flat distributor in a minute or two and do a tuneup in your house.
 
ok so my 41 mercury has a 59ab motor in it. with an early style dist. I was planning on going to the newer style. basically the exact opposite of the op. I thought it was a bolt in deal?
 
BUBBAS IGNITION said:
The distributor shown ( 2 bolt crab with 2 piece rabbit ear cap ) is a 46 to 48. To use the correct three bolt helmet the cover and distributor must be changed.
Assuming you are set on the orginal helmet look etc,
Click to expand...

While the ease of use of the newer set up is appealing, the wife is planning on running the Hill at Newport.
 
"ok so my 41 mercury has a 59ab motor in it. with an early style dist. I was planning on going to the newer style. basically the exact opposite of the op. I thought it was a bolt in deal?"

Depends on what cam is in the motor...and what adaptation you make.
Early distributor and front cover match up to a '39-41 cam OR to the '42-48 cam with a little adapter button to make it slightly longer. Remove the distributor and see if you can pull the front bit off of the cam with pliers!
To go to late distributor, either use an adapter plate on old front cover that adapts to 2 bolt pattern AND spaces out distributor for the long cam setup...
OR if you have the short cam in there, remove the adapter button and swap on '42-48 front cover.
 
Here is what I have, no mention of a resistor so I am guessing I need an external one.
Suggestion of size resistor?
It is a 12 volt.
Is my thinking wrong,
Volts makes volts so you want the most volts at the coil, coils advertise 30,000 volts, no mention of amps.
But amps makes burnt points which is destroys contact points??
so I would want the resistor after the coil dropping the current burn on the points contacts?
I may be thinking all wrong on this, let me know.
 

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The Fords pre 1949 V8 vehicles (1948 for commercials/trucks) generally have a wire wound resistor some place under the dash on a micarta circuit board along with a circuit breaker for the lighting systems. The resistance is a ballast for the coil and is in the ignition circuit to the "Bat" terminal on the coil. The distributor or "Dist" terminal is connected to the distributor condenser then on to the breaker points.

If you have a vehicle that is changed over to 12-volt negative ground then other mods will be required.
 
Thanks for the info everyone. Looks like I'm on the hunt for parts again. I'll be giving you a call when I get to that point Jim.
 
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