Distributor "guts" swap possible?

[38 coupe]

Originally Posted by Kube

1) Can I swap the entire "guts" from a '37 - '41 distributor into a '36 distributor?
2)How about between early and late '36 distributors?

Yes and no.

The "late" 36 distributor, the "snuff can coil" unit, will swap all internal parts up through the 1941 "11A" distributor. The 11A advance is a nice upgrade, all other parts are the same.

The early 36 distributor, the 33-36 unit, can swap the 37-41 shaft and point plate, but must use the early rotor and inner caps. The 11A advance can be a nice upgrade, but the point adjustment is more frustrating.

The 33-early 36 distributors are wider and longer than the late 36-41 distributors. The early rotor and caps fill in the extra distances when compared to the later parts.

With effort you can also go the other way, putting the bigger early rotor and inner caps in the later distributors. You have to shorten the front of the rotor, file down the rotor tips, and file the inner cap contacts to match. It is a lot of work for little gain, only do this if you have spare time and otherwise good used early inner rotor and caps with tips burned by arcing. I did this twice using later housings that allowed the point adjustment hole to be added allowing use of the complete early guts with externally adjustable point gaps. The distributors run nice, but the only possible advantages are the ability to get very small rotor to cap gaps, and the ability to use early points with their easier adjustment. I don't think I will do this again.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by 38 coupe

Yes and no.

The "late" 36 distributor, the "snuff can coil" unit, will swap all internal parts up through the 1941 "11A" distributor. The 11A advance is a nice upgrade, all other parts are the same.

The early 36 distributor, the 33-36 unit, can swap the 37-41 shaft and point plate, but must use the early rotor and inner caps. The 11A advance can be a nice upgrade, but the point adjustment is more frustrating.

The 33-early 36 distributors are wider and longer than the late 36-41 distributors. The early rotor and caps fill in the extra distances when compared to the later parts.

With effort you can also go the other way, putting the bigger early rotor and inner caps in the later distributors. You have to shorten the front of the rotor, file down the rotor tips, and file the inner cap contacts to match. It is a lot of work for little gain, only do this if you have spare time and otherwise good used early inner rotor and caps with tips burned by arcing. I did this twice using later housings that allowed the point adjustment hole to be added allowing use of the complete early guts with externally adjustable point gaps. The distributors run nice, but the only possible advantages are the ability to get very small rotor to cap gaps, and the ability to use early points with their easier adjustment. I don't think I will do this again.

Thanks much!