Need some distributor lessons

[Fordestes]

I have a 41 ford v-8 distributor Is this the most preferred and what model do they call it an 11-A or 40-B ? it has the smaller cam than the earlier model , is the advance better than the earlier unit?
thanks Fordestes

[Kahuna]

Fordestes
If you have a true 41 distributor, it will have the 11A advance mechanism in it.
The advance mech is marked.
It is IMO, the best to use.
Jim

[Fordestes]

the only numbers I can find on all three I have dis-assembled is 68, nothing else besides ford logo on the breaker plate. does 68 mean anything far as curve etc.?

[petehoovie]

68 was the Model Number for the 1936 Ford....

[BUBBAS IGNITION]

68 is a 22 degree unit as well.
I see no difference in a 68 and a 11A.
As long as you have the small cam with indiviudal contacts thats the good one.

[SofaKing]

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Originally Posted by BUBBAS IGNITION

68 is a 22 degree unit as well.
I see no difference in a 68 and a 11A.
As long as you have the small cam with indiviudal contacts thats the good one.

Can you post photos please that illustrate the size and contacts you refer to for people unfamiliar with the topic?

[Fordestes]

Thank Bubba, I will proceed wit the cleaning and lube of the distributor, also what are the numbers for new points from napa and which condenser is a good one for trouble free operation?

[BUBBAS IGNITION]

Originally Posted by Fordestes

Thank Bubba, I will proceed wit the cleaning and lube of the distributor, also what are the numbers for new points from napa and which condenser is a good one for trouble free operation?

CS47 for the point set

[uncle buck]

Originally Posted by BUBBAS IGNITION

68 is a 22 degree unit as well.
I see no difference in a 68 and a 11A.
As long as you have the small cam with indiviudal contacts thats the good one.

Bubba,
Are you referring to the 32-36 early vs 36 late and newer point design?

[Fordestes]

my dist .is a 37-41, v-8, has small cam and 68 on the internal components.

[35fordtn]

Jim school me as every single 68!dizzy I’ve ever strobed advances between 16-18 degrees compared to the 11a which always advances 21-24 degrees??

[Lawrie]

The advance curve is different on the 68 to the 11a,
Lawrie

[35fordtn]

Lawrie I know the curve is different but so is the amount it advances.

[Lawrie]

I,m not home so can’t look up my stuff,but I think they advance to the same amount ,but at a different rate
Lawrie

[35fordtn]

Lawrie,
On all I’ve ever done the base line on them all in terms of cam degree are as follows
40a 11 deg
40b 8 deg
68. 8 deg
99a (very rare) 10deg
11a 11 deg

I personally think there is a notable improvement between the 68 and 11a.

[Lawrie]

In my ford service bulletin books it lists all the advance info!start degrees,finish degrees, total advance ,and there you see there is a big difference in them,as I said I,m away from home so can’t look up them.
B,it the 11a is the best of the two,
Lawrie

[BUBBAS IGNITION]

Originally Posted by 35fordtn

Jim school me as every single 68!dizzy I’ve ever strobed advances between 16-18 degrees compared to the 11a which always advances 21-24 degrees??

Mike , Will do as i have two apart going back together right now , just havent noticed much difference in the 68 and 11 As.......I have parts for both will get a run up this week and check again......

[Fordestes]

Thanks all who responded, Bubba we will be looking forward to the results
many thank for your effort.
fordestes

[BUBBAS IGNITION]

Guys got a few minutes this morning to look at a few parts.
I might have mis-spoke a little bit by saying the model 68 and the 11A were the same degrees??
Heres the Bulletins from the Ford Bible regarding all (but the 41 dist) and like Mike stated the 68 is rated at 18 degrees at 1900 rpm.
Looking over the workbench this morning i have one of the 68 and a 11A unit going together this week. Will run the curves on the machine as time permits.

Some observations and measurements show the cam assemblys, the two shafts and the brake rings. Appears the 11A and 68 cams ( small) weights etc are the same. Shaft slots measure the same as well, although may be slight variation in slot locations????
The two brake rings have different profiles and slots ( this could be the major difference in the two).
Did Henry use the 11A in the 41 models and then carry the part into the 42 crab???
My books say very little in regars to 41-42 distributor changes?????

[35fordtn]

Jim,
Thanks for your observations.. The only difference in my opinion in the 68 vs 11A weights is the spring tension.

I believe ford redesigned the brake ring (or index plate as I call it), when they redesigned the shaft to allow more advance. I believe the shaft is all that controls the amount of advance, and weights natually control the rate. I have run a 11A index plate on a 68 distributor with no change, however running a 68 index plate on a 11A distributor limits the advance by two degrees.

Somewhere I have the Ford prints and engineering drawings on the different distributor parts. The 21A distrubutor used the 11A weight and index plate with the only change being the shaft.

What is that "901" distributor on the chart??