| 1911tex | -- 10-31-2026 @ 3:08 PM |
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Just joined this terrific Early Ford V-8 Club. Looong time retired peace officer in the Texas Hill Country. Contemplating purchasing a beautiful, completely stock 3-window Ford coupe from a neighbor who inherited this car and knows less than I do! Have a couple of questions and I imagine many more to follow, one of which I think I know the answer, not sure. The other puzzles me. The first photo below shows a chrome dongle hanging below the left instrument panel, below the push button starter...what is it and how does it function? The second photo shows the front of the 21 bolt flathead engine and below the fan. There is a large oval something or other that has 2 wire bales on each side and an oil cup. I believe this to be a dual distributor, as there is no other traditional distributor under the hood. I flew for law enforcement for almost 40 years and can practically take an airplane engine apart and put it back together...but these items are puzzling. I am about to jump on this purchase and if I do, I will post mucho photos! Please understand that I am an anal hands on person, so there may be many more questions as time rolls on. Thank you!
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| 52flatv8 | -- 10-31-2026 @ 4:07 PM |
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Welcome aboard. The "oval thing" on the engine is a "helmet type distributer" which others here know well. Very reliable when set up right. The other picture, beats me...... You sure came to the right place as there are lots of 21 stud guys here. Mike
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| 52flatv8 | -- 10-31-2026 @ 4:08 PM |
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Sorry, forgot to thank you for time as a peace officer !!! Thank You !!
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| nelsb01 | -- 10-31-2026 @ 4:25 PM |
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It looks like an on/off switch, so are there wires attached to the back side?
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| ford38v8 | -- 10-31-2026 @ 4:47 PM |
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Welcome to the club, and thank you for your service! The dashboard items seem to be aftermarket, so no info there, but for the opinion that they might be starter button and electric fuel pump toggle. Maybe. The other pic is indeed your distributor, but with an adapter for use with a separate coil. All these items are clues pointing to the likelihood of this being a more reliable driver rather than a show car. About the 3 window model, that model is one of the most desirable, so go for it by all means! Alan
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| 1911tex | -- 10-31-2026 @ 5:58 PM |
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Thank all you good folks! Now that I know the item below the fan is the duel distributor....I reckon anytime work is required on the distributor, the tech (most likely me down the line) will have to have the car up on jacks and work on my back, or up on a lift. It seems impossible to work on it from under the hood. I thought it was really difficult to work on the distributor of my '97 Chevy truck...the distributor was in back of the engine against the firewall and you had to lay on your stomach on top of the engine...not a welcoming working position. As far as the chrome dongle below left of the push button starter in the photo...I know for sure the fuel pump switch is located below 'right' of the push button starter...it was labeled. When it was switched on you could hear the tick tick tick from the pump at the rear next to the fuel tank. As far as the dongle in question....I will take your advice and follow the wires. Once I can confirm the dongles duty, I will be back to you on the forum. Much appreciations!
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| kubes40 | -- 10-31-2026 @ 6:07 PM |
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I have a high point '36 three-window coupe and may be able to help you on this possible journey you are considering. There are others that lurk on this site that are invaluable with their knowledge and helpfulness. The starter button on the dash has been added. It is not stock. That's not an unusual modification. The switch at the bottom lip of the dash is to operate an electric fuel pump. Another fairly common modification. So, the car you are considering is not 100% stock and is certainly not fully restored. Still, a '35 three-window coupe is highly prized. For the right price, I'd say "grab it". Mike "Kube" Kubarth This message was edited by kubes40 on 10-31-26 @ 6:08 PM
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| ford38v8 | -- 10-31-2026 @ 6:51 PM |
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Tex, you don’t lay on your back to work on that distributor. It is held in place with 3 bolts, just remove it and replace it with a rebuilt, ready to rock and roll. Good to have a spare on hand anyway. They are set up on the bench fully tuned in. Alan
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| 1911tex | -- 10-31-2026 @ 7:18 PM |
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Just figured it out folks....turned the power on, pulled the switch down...it's for the electric windshield wiper...switch down one notch, its a slow wipe, pull the switch down again, wipes faster....push up, stops! Car has a beautiful original type headliner...which when the sun visor is lowered....no longer a vacuum operated switch. Also noted no mechanical brakes, it had been converted to juice brakes. I guess the previous owner had safety as #1..but no seat belts. Just looking at the car, you would never know, it looks totally original. Really a magnificent coupe....my mind is made up...it's a go! One thing I need to find out....All lights work front and back from the center steering wheel switch as original...however, it seems no brake lights and of course that is very, very important....I don't think young folks understand hand signals for turning and stop. Gotta check that out or maybe I am not doing something correctly? Thank you! Larry
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| 1911tex | -- 10-31-2026 @ 7:25 PM |
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Thank you Mike. Yes there is another black switch below the panel, but to the right of the push button that is the fuel pump switch as noted above. Found a note to always remember to switch the fuel pump switch off after the engine is running. You must have a valuable show competition coupe! Thank you again! Larry
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| 1911tex | -- 10-31-2026 @ 7:40 PM |
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Alan where do you purchase a 'backup rebuilt helmet type distributor'? Thanks, Larry
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| 1911tex | -- 10-31-2026 @ 8:01 PM |
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I took a photo of the panel as seen below and tried to label it which may not work...on the panel it has what may be a custom fit older type radio? I didn't think it would work as there is no external antenna. Turned power on and rotated the switch, my goodness, a local a.m. station was on...lots of static, but it worked! How can that work without an external antenna? Where would an external antenna be located? Or maybe it is located somewhere hidden in the car? Larry
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| carcrazy | -- 10-31-2026 @ 11:41 PM |
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Hi Tex, One way to obtain a distributor for your 1935 Ford is to advertise for one in the "Parts Wanted" section of the Classifieds on this website. Another way is to contact the vendors who advertise distributor repair under the Services Offered section of the V-8 Times magazine. One vendor offering to rebuild distributors is Lefty's Garage, leftysgarage@yahoo.com, 316-217-2425
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| carcrazy | -- 10-31-2026 @ 11:51 PM |
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The original radio antenna for the 1935 closed body cars is built into the roof fabric. It is a chicken wire sandwiched between the outer top fabric surface and the vehicle headliner material.
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| 1911tex | -- 11-01-2026 @ 5:05 AM |
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Carcrazy......thank you!!!
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| JayChicago | -- 11-01-2026 @ 11:28 AM |
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1911tex said: "All lights work front and back from the center steering wheel switch as original...however, it seems no brake lights" Should be easy to trouble-shoot the brake lights with a test light. I would start at the hydraulic pressure brake light switch on the back of the master cylinder. (master cylinder is under the driver's floor) The brake light switch should have always-hot power coming in on one green wire, switched power going out to the lights on the other green wire. The original brake pressure switch was known to need a heavy foot to activate it.
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| 40 Coupe | -- 11-02-2026 @ 4:51 AM |
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35 original brakes are mechanical if converted to hydraulic look to the master cylinder for the brake light switch. Hard to tell from the photo but it appears the distributor has a coil block off plate so the ignition coil could be mounted elsewhere. The original coil was mounted to the top of the distributor. This message was edited by 40 Coupe on 11-2-26 @ 4:56 AM
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| 1911tex | -- 11-02-2026 @ 11:32 AM |
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Thank you JayChicago and again 40Coupe! I will check out the back of the master cylinder (I finally located it just behind the gas pedal, below the floorboard)....and yes, the coil is mounted on the driver side front lower sidewall of the engine compartment. Why? Donno....but perhaps more convenient for testing, replacing, etc. Learning more and more every hour it seems from digging into my new '35 and reading your responses on the EF V-8 Forum! Just finished correcting the seat slider using aircraft safety wire from the control lever to both sides (with new springs) to release the seat.....seems to have been immovable without springs and scr*w*d in fixed position! Thank you, Larry
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