The Ford Barn

Lawson Cox · 05-28-2022, 10:12 AM

Trying to find YOUtube or other video on installing spark plug wires and inner and outer caps onto early distributor. All I can find are 42 and up, which don't help with how inner caps and outer caps fit up to the distributor body. I find it confusing. Inner caps fit either side, correct? Outer caps fit either side, correct? I can't seem to make that work out for some reason. I did it on my 34 and 36 with stock distributor but that was when I was young and had all of my faculties.

petehoovie · 05-28-2022, 11:26 AM

Yes, the caps are interchangeable...Same part number for both inner and outer...

Mart · 05-28-2022, 11:54 AM

If you look closely, one set of numbers are one way up and the other set are the other way up. That dictates which side the plates go on.

Lawson Cox · 05-28-2022, 01:17 PM

Yeah, Pete and Mart, I'm aware of that, but still having problems. I'll keep trying. I know I must be doing something wrong, but what? I'll check in later after more finagling.

Mart · 05-28-2022, 01:24 PM

The plates can expand over time and be a tight fit in the bore. Some filing may be needed.

petehoovie · 05-28-2022, 02:00 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

What Mart said. Some of the new reproduction caps need filing. I usually go to eBay to find and purchase vintage NOS or NORS caps...And, don't forget that the inner caps for late '36 on up to '41 are different than the '32 to early '36 caps - Part numbers 18-12116 vs. 68-12116
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...12116&_sacat=0

Lawson Cox · 05-28-2022, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mart

The plates can expand over time and be a tight fit in the bore. Some filing may be needed.

Done that also. One of the plates has a chip off of one side but I don't think that is the problem either. I'll disconnect everything and start over.

nelsb01 · 05-28-2022, 02:10 PM

If you are going to start over -- test fit the caps to the sides of the distributor housing before attaching the wires.
The notches should line up with the housing and then do one side at a time. Yes itis a bugger ---

AND....if this is on your display engine, the best part is that you dont have to worry about the radiator cutting your knukles to shreads.

Robert/Texas · 05-28-2022, 04:09 PM

After many tries, here is how I did this on my '36 engine. Sitting at a table with the distributor, caps, wires and looms in hand I inserted the wires into the caps. Next I pushed the wires into the looms, shortest ones first. I used some bailing wire to help with this. Next I installed the distributor and finally the wire looms.

Actually, my daughter, son-in-law and oldest great-grand son did most of the work but I supervised.

Charlie ny · 05-28-2022, 04:35 PM

LC,
My offer is open forever !
Charlie ny

Lawson Cox · 05-29-2022, 02:25 PM

Thanks Charlie. I done it all by mine self. See post above. Whoo Pee.

Mart · 05-30-2022, 11:26 AM

Well done Lawson. glad you got it done.

Mart.

Ziggster · 06-02-2022, 07:48 AM

Wrong thread.

05-28-2022, 10:12 AM	#1
Lawson Cox Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Above the gnat line in Georgia Posts: 7,009	Installing wires in stock 32-48 distributor Trying to find YOUtube or other video on installing spark plug wires and inner and outer caps onto early distributor. All I can find are 42 and up, which don't help with how inner caps and outer caps fit up to the distributor body. I find it confusing. Inner caps fit either side, correct? Outer caps fit either side, correct? I can't seem to make that work out for some reason. I did it on my 34 and 36 with stock distributor but that was when I was young and had all of my faculties. __________________ Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer to the end, the faster it goes. It is better to be seen, than viewed. "We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm".

05-28-2022, 11:26 AM	#2
petehoovie Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 8,137	Re: Installing wires in stock 32-48 distributor Yes, the caps are interchangeable...Same part number for both inner and outer... __________________ The only thing nice about being imperfect is the joy it brings to others.... *"Silver rings, your butt! Them's washers!"* "We shot our way out of that town for a dollar's worth of steel holes!" - from 'The Wild Bunch' - 1969 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NReUd2_0u0 Last edited by petehoovie; 05-28-2022 at 11:47 AM.

05-28-2022, 11:54 AM	#3
Mart Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Solihull, England. Posts: 8,752	Re: Installing wires in stock 32-48 distributor If you look closely, one set of numbers are one way up and the other set are the other way up. That dictates which side the plates go on.

05-28-2022, 01:17 PM	#4
Lawson Cox Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Above the gnat line in Georgia Posts: 7,009	Re: Installing wires in stock 32-48 distributor Yeah, Pete and Mart, I'm aware of that, but still having problems. I'll keep trying. I know I must be doing something wrong, but what? I'll check in later after more finagling. __________________ Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer to the end, the faster it goes. It is better to be seen, than viewed. "We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm".

05-28-2022, 01:24 PM	#5
Mart Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Solihull, England. Posts: 8,752	Re: Installing wires in stock 32-48 distributor The plates can expand over time and be a tight fit in the bore. Some filing may be needed.

05-28-2022, 02:00 PM	#6
petehoovie Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 8,137	Re: Installing wires in stock 32-48 distributor Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) What Mart said. Some of the new reproduction caps need filing. I usually go to eBay to find and purchase vintage NOS or NORS caps...And, don't forget that the inner caps for late '36 on up to '41 are different than the '32 to early '36 caps - Part numbers 18-12116 vs. 68-12116 https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...12116&_sacat=0 __________________ The only thing nice about being imperfect is the joy it brings to others.... *"Silver rings, your butt! Them's washers!"* "We shot our way out of that town for a dollar's worth of steel holes!" - from 'The Wild Bunch' - 1969 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NReUd2_0u0

05-28-2022, 02:10 PM	#8
nelsb01 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Up North Posts: 626	Re: Installing wires in stock 32-48 distributor If you are going to start over -- test fit the caps to the sides of the distributor housing before attaching the wires. The notches should line up with the housing and then do one side at a time. Yes itis a bugger --- AND....if this is on your display engine, the best part is that you dont have to worry about the radiator cutting your knukles to shreads. Last edited by nelsb01; 05-28-2022 at 02:20 PM.

05-28-2022, 04:09 PM	#9
Robert/Texas Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Burton, Texas Posts: 681	Re: Installing wires in stock 32-48 distributor After many tries, here is how I did this on my '36 engine. Sitting at a table with the distributor, caps, wires and looms in hand I inserted the wires into the caps. Next I pushed the wires into the looms, shortest ones first. I used some bailing wire to help with this. Next I installed the distributor and finally the wire looms. Actually, my daughter, son-in-law and oldest great-grand son did most of the work but I supervised.

05-28-2022, 04:35 PM	#10
Charlie ny BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 3,019	Re: Installing wires in stock 32-48 distributor LC, My offer is open forever ! Charlie ny

05-29-2022, 02:25 PM	#11
Lawson Cox Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Above the gnat line in Georgia Posts: 7,009	Re: Installing wires in stock 32-48 distributor Thanks Charlie. I done it all by mine self. See post above. Whoo Pee. __________________ Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer to the end, the faster it goes. It is better to be seen, than viewed. "We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm".

05-30-2022, 11:26 AM	#12
Mart Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Solihull, England. Posts: 8,752	Re: Installing wires in stock 32-48 distributor Well done Lawson. glad you got it done. Mart.

06-02-2022, 07:48 AM	#13
Ziggster Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Ottawa, ON Posts: 854	Re: Installing wires in stock 32-48 distributor Wrong thread.