Distributor temps
 

Can someone tell me how high the temp in a distributor can get on a hot day after several hours drive time? I am trying to make some special insulating parts for a switch connection to the distributor lower plate out of phenolic rod and there are several tempurature ratings available at different ( more and more expensive) prices.

Re: Distributor temps
 

Just an estimate in my opinion Bill, around 165 degrees on a hot day. Take in account the distributor body is hefty iron, swaddled tightly into cyl. head, a good conductor from cylinder head combustion heat. I don't see how it could be higher, considering the coolant is doing it's job and staying below boiling point. The dist. body "thins out" near it's base also which would keep the heat from running up into body."This is just a back-yard mechanic's thought" I would love to have one of those "aim and read" thermometers.

Re: Distributor temps
 

Sitting inches from the exhaust manifold, I think the distributor can get pretty hot. There is a reason they sell after-market "burnout proof" condensers and aluminum heat shields to mount under the distributor.

Re: Distributor temps
 

I have melted the solder on the condenser tab, it was on the first version of the A&L burnout proof condenser ---I just bent the tab to touch the cond and kept on going with it for 4more years ----the condenser was replaced for free with the welded on tab version, all the internal parts are original except the wire, I doubt the internals get over 250

Re: Distributor temps
 

I got an engine hot enough to melt the pickup and dust cap in a Pertronix distibutor. The cause was an internal block crack. I estimate the temperature needed to repeat this calamity to be somewhere around "Hot as H!@#".