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EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / TIMING A 39 FORD

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Posted By Discussion Topic: TIMING A 39 FORD -- page: 1 2     37RAGTOPMAN 05-10-2010 @ 8:57 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1992 Joined: Oct 2009 MTLOT YES You can install points and gap them in a early FORD Distributer and have it running with no problems, back in the days, FORD had rebuilt ones on the shelf ready to go, and when they were slow in the shop would rebuild them, its not only setting the points, with a HEYER,SUN, or K R WILSON,DIST TESTER you also have to see if it advances the timing.this is not possible in your hands, and how the bushing are and the springs,tension, etc etc etc, check the dwell and to see if the cam is worn down etc I have installed points in a early dist and had no problems,but I think I got lucky, when you send the distributer to a rebuilder, you should send the coil also,and have it tested to make sure it passes the heat test,most of them fail this test, this DISTRIBUTER for the EARLY FORD are a complex unit, that need special testers with gauges and meters,to see if they are working correctly I heard a GERMAN engineeer that worked for FORD,That was the one who designed it, and remember it was used for 16 years, and more, it is a excellant unit when done right, but not done right can be a frustrating. I think the ADVICE given here is to assist the novice is his QUESTIONS,and advice was given in a honest way.and the best way to go so they do not have more problems leading them in the RIGHT DIRECTION, sure we could tell them to install points and go with it, what happens when they get stuck on the road ? you seem very critrical on the advice given here, WHY DO YOU THINK FORD had SPECIAL Equipment to service these distributers ? we are just trying to help, Skip Haney is only one out of many that rebuild the distributer and coils,plus more... did you ever install a set of points in a early FORD distributer ? this something you do not want to do on the road, most people have a hard time just removing and installing one, KEEP ON TRUCKIN,,!!!!!! 37RAGTOPMAN deuce_roadster 05-09-2010 @ 3:39 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 284 Joined: Oct 2009 The original question was what is the "proper" way to time the flathead. I would think this means "best" way to do it. Sure, MLott could rebuild a helmet distrib on the side of the road in the night with a swiss army knife and get it running but he seems to not understand the original question. Nobody said that using a Sun machine was the ONLY way to do it, but it is the BEST way. People like Mlott will argue with anyone about anything and I would say the best thing to do is just ignore him and hopefully he will go away. The vast majority of the suggestions here are very good. We don't need someone on a negative soapbox. silverchief 05-09-2010 @ 2:38 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 539 Joined: Oct 2009 If I had all the money and headaches Supereal, and Tom0, have saved me using their advice I could buy a case of NOS distributors. I'm happy to dance with the guys what brung me. Norm 05-09-2010 @ 8:25 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 85 Joined: Oct 2009 When I was a kid I took a lot of clocks apart. That didn't make me a clock expert. Norm Stroker 05-09-2010 @ 7:55 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1460 Joined: Oct 2009 AMEN ford38v8 05-08-2010 @ 10:59 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 2883 Joined: Oct 2009 Parrish, I think you are a quick study. You may also teach some of us a lesson or three. Alan parrish 05-08-2010 @ 10:30 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 349 Joined: Oct 2009 The lady doth protest too much, methinks. Hamlet Act 3, scene 2, 222–230 MTLott 04-22-2010 @ 2:28 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 38 Joined: Oct 2009 You're right. I'm "wrong" ... and in the wrong place. (Let me add to my response. Had a very busy weekend up until now.) And please, don't bother responding to this. Just think about it. You all seem to agree that nobody should attempt to set up a distributor. That only a Skip Haney is capable. Norm wrote, "... and none of us imagined doing it ourselves. Change an engine - sure. Rebuild a distributor - no way." That is sad. Sad for the hobby, and sad that the message is "DON'T TRY." Who is going to be the next "Skip Haney?" Or is the hobby destined to be forced over to billet, electronic ignitions ... because of the "best advice" from The Early Ford V-8 Club experts is the bogey man lives inside the distributor. Supereal wrote, "If our responses annoy you, Mr. Lott, it is difficult to understand why you spend any time critiquing them instead of offering some more constructive dialog, as you claim to have more and better answers." Partner, I beat my head against the wall with my posts about diaphragm clutches. You were not aware they have been in use in cars almost exclusively for the past 40 years ... "constructive dialog?" I went to extra effort to post links on the subject. You never acknowledged any appreciation for the information. I'm gone from here. Incidentally, I have four Sun Distributor Testers and am rebuilding a fifth. I will not be the next Skip Haney, BUT I may be the guy who encourages his replacement to not be scared to death of working on a flathead distributor. If I had encountered this forum before taking a set of feeler gauges to a distributor, I never would have learned anything about them. Some of you have immense TECHNICAL knowledge and TECHNICAL experience. That does not mean you are giving the BEST advice. Now re-read my original post that began, "Do you guys ever consider that some of the folks that ask these tune-up questions are in this as a hobby?" "... some more constructive dialog?" Yep, that's a great idea. How do you do that with people that already know it all? Just like diaphragm clutches and the V8-60 (remember, "I'm not sure why you want to spend time and money on a 60. That engine is, for all practical purposes, obsolete."), ... "constructive dialog." This message was edited by MTLott on 4-25-10 @ 5:41 AM supereal 04-22-2010 @ 2:14 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 6819 Joined: Oct 2009 Ken: We keep a number of point sets on hand that have been carefully inspected for quality. Currently, about half or more of the points sent to us with distributors to be repaired are rejected. I see, in Bob Drake's newest catalog, that they are offering better point sets. Given Drake's reputation for quality, I would expect that to be true. supereal 04-22-2010 @ 2:11 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 6819 Joined: Oct 2009 Yes, we understand that most, if not all, of our Club members are hobbyists, and those of us who offer suggestions do our best to provide the benefit of experience even as we are handicapped by not having the component in question before us. If our responses annoy you, Mr. Lott, it is difficult to understand why you spend any time critiquing them instead of offering some more constructive dialog, as you claim to have more and better answers. No one says anyone HAS to do anything.

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