UK Distributor question

patnmand

patnmand

Member
Hoping the UK Model A people will be able to help me here. My 1928 Phaeton, at some point in its history, has been fitted with an auto-advance distributor. As an Australian car the distributor used was from some form of Holden (no idea what). I've managed to find replacement points that fit, and a condenser that fits, but have drawn a blank on the rotor arm and cap. I've even had Aussie motor factors send me rotor arms that looked hopeful - but no joy so far.

I know I should take it back to factory and track down a batwing distributor, but this isn't really an option as the same person also fitted a downdraft carburettor, which would obstruct the linkages. So I'd need to replace both, and that would be prohibitive in terms of cost at present.

I could fit the FSI Electronic ignition kit, but this seems like overkill at present.

So... are there any UK people out there with non-standard auto-advance distributors? If so, what vehicle did they come off? I know I don't need to do anything yet as the current distributor is working OK, but I'd like to have a backup plan......
 
You could use a Model B Distributor that has the batwing type cap but weighted advance, or the late B one that looks like a Ford Pop Distributor they are better than the early type.

I might even have either that you could buy
John Cochran
 
Post a picture if you can.....I've owned British cars but no Holden's....someone will recognize it...
 
A standard style round cap is available for A & B distributors. You can make a rotor if you are handy. My friend always took my A for joyrides without my permission so I took out the rotor one day while it was parked at his house, it was gone when I returned. He had fabricated a rotor out of spare junk laying around!
 
Some years ago there was a discussion on the Fordbarn about the use of non-Model A or B distributors that were sourced from other engines. A few that were described required some modification to fit the Model A. Several fellows from the UK described a late 30's early 40's distributor from a Ford Prefect that could be used on a Model A with no modification, i.e., it was a "drop-in".
 
ursus said:
Some years ago there was a discussion on the Fordbarn about the use of non-Model A or B distributors that were sourced from other engines. A few that were described required some modification to fit the Model A. Several fellows from the UK described a late 30's early 40's distributor from a Ford Prefect that could be used on a Model A with no modification, i.e., it was a "drop-in".
Click to expand...

Here is a breakdown picture of the small English Ford distributor, this is from the late 50s,
 

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Need a pic or ID , if English Ford 8 or 10 I can help / Holden (GM) or ( hold on love dam engine nackered ) , New a number of A,s use the down draft carb but may be one of our mates can enlighten us as too what the dissy might be ,
 
Thanks all. Some really good ideas and suggestions. I will try to take some pictures this weekend and upload them but it sounds like there are plenty of options.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk
 
You could try Belcher (I think thats how you spell it) engineering in the east of England. They are very helpful and stock all sorts of goodies for 8hp, 10hp and Model A's.

They also know their way around early Fords, what works and what does not.
 
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