Distributor Parts

[HILLY]

Dear all,
I am in need of a few select components to complete my latest acquisition.
The distributor is a transistorised race version along with the matching coil and resistor.
The components that I require are as follows....

• Rotor
• Cap
• The internal cover plate that I am not exactly sure of the description yet??
• Governor
• And a couple of hens teeth wrapped in a distributor wiring harness. I ‘would’ settle for a schematic drawing.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

 

[JimmyMac]

Pete,
Are you sure that you want to be a tranny ?

It might be a lot simpler and more dependable to set-up this distributor core as a dual coil. The parts are relatively easy get and a whole lot cheaper.

I purchased a complete set of NOS Autolite bits for mine recently on ebay and I know a few suppliers .

 

[HILLY]

James,
I personally can not speak from experience but from the tone of your post I would assume that you did not enjoy your experience!!

On a serious note, I think that I did read somewhere that a similar modification was common practice after some teams had problems with reliability in the longer races. Definitely worth looking at that option if it is going to save some frustration (and expense) in the long run.

 

[JimmyMac]

Peter,
IMO................
The transistor kit might have been good on the day.
I had a choice of both types when I got mine from one of the original GT40 builders and he recommended the dual point.
Most of these old governor boxes are dead when you get them and the rest are on their last legs. So for $600 a pop, it's not worth it. The empty boxes also go for that price for the concours car builders.

The later solid state ignition relays are much easy to get and I'm told that the modern remakes of these are even better.

 

[John Shand]

can you post a photo looking into the top end, I have used many different units and would recomend staying electronic if the dissy has the pickup coil,
as the dissy will drive lots of different electronic moduals, will have a look at what you can get in Aus

John

 

[HILLY]

John,
I hope that this view shows you the detail that you requested.
Wherever possible I would like to stay with the original GT40 set-up / component specification rather than substituting them. If the tranny set-up proves to be a nuisance I would prefer to change the set-up as James has recommended as this will solve any of the inherent problems yet still maintain originality.
Photo's of the coil and resister as well.

 

[JimmyMac]

Pete,
From the look of it, I don't think that you are far off getting this lot together.
Maybe you could send the dissy to a specialist for a continuity test. If the system pings a signal then all you might need is governor that works and possibly a fresh coil judging by the damp marks on your original.
You can buy an original Autolite yellow top coil but repops are available on eBay every day.
I personally would also not buy an old wiring loom as new ones (and probably safer) are made to the exact specification and sold by specialist Ford guys in the US.

There is one guy in California who is very well know at benchmarking this stuff and I will dig out his address for you.

The original Fomoco caps and rotors are also easy to get.

 

[HILLY]

Hi James,

Contact details of suppliers for these items would be very much appreciated.
Is there specific part numbers for the caps and rotors for this system??

Is the coil in the photo a suitable replacement for a transistorised system??

 

[JimmyMac]

Peter,
The cap and rotor are standard Fomoco & Autolite V8 parts for the period.
You can get the cheaper Motorcraft stuff readily.

I can't answer for the coil as I'm concentrating upon dual point.

 

[Jac Mac]

Hi James,

Contact details of suppliers for these items would be very much appreciated.
Is there specific part numbers for the caps and rotors for this system??

Is the coil in the photo a suitable replacement for a transistorised system??

No, that coil is for points type ignition with external or loom ballast for voltage drop.

Jac Mac

 

[JimmyMac]

Peter,
The guy who might help you tune your distributor is Chuck Barbero of Distributor Dynamics. USA.
He comes well recommended in the K code community.

(530) 657-2522

 

[HILLY]

Many thanks James,
I will chase him up and let you know how I go.