The Ford Barn

Bill Goddard · 11-11-2011, 10:17 AM

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.

mass A man · 11-11-2011, 05:26 PM

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.

Mikeinnj · 11-11-2011, 06:37 PM

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.

Kurt in NJ · 11-11-2011, 11:21 PM

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

Robert · 11-12-2011, 06:52 AM

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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!@#".

11-11-2011, 10:17 AM	#1
Bill Goddard Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Shrewsbury,Pa Posts: 516	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.

11-11-2011, 05:26 PM	#2
mass A man Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Danvers, Ma. Posts: 807	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.

11-11-2011, 06:37 PM	#3
Mikeinnj Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Northern New Jersey Posts: 1,262	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.

11-11-2011, 11:21 PM	#4
Kurt in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: on the Littlefield Posts: 6,673	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

11-12-2011, 06:52 AM	#5
Robert Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 99	Re: Distributor temps Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) 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!@#".