FYI Distributor Plug

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by Bob Bidonde

No matter what you use to plug the hole, it needs to be readily removable to change a condenser. In all of the years that Model As have been successfully driven without the hole plug, why bother adding one?

Bob,
I think it's a good thing, to keep WATER out of the distributor
Bill W.

[denniskliesen]

I've had the plug in mine for 3 months now.

Question: What's the #1 cause of condensor failure?

[Y-Blockhead]

Originally Posted by denniskliesen

I've had the plug in mine for 3 months now.

Question: What's the #1 cause of condensor failure?

Hecho en Chine...

Originally Posted by Mitch//pa

IMO Because it looks good and it pops right out...
Helps keep the internals dry

I agree! It just LOOKS better with something in the hole.

[Bruce Lancaster]

Aside from discussions noted here, the only mention I have seen is in Victor Page's old Model A book. I need to go look again, but there's a period note on its existence. I've never seen (or seen cited) anything in Ford literature.

[California Travieso]

Originally Posted by Bob Bidonde

No matter what you use to plug the hole, it needs to be readily removable to change a condenser. In all of the years that Model As have been successfully driven without the hole plug, why bother adding one?

Because Henry put one there!

Mitch, you've taken some hits over this. Your advice on this forum is very helpful to many of us Model A novices. Thanks for the info and hang in there.

David Serrano

[Bruce Lancaster]

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Found my Page's...it simply notes the existence of the plug, describing it as "Sealing Wax." Material has been discussed on here, strongly suggesting it was something with a higher melting point. Page could have been guessing, or perhaps just meant "Waxy stuff that seals a hole." And, of course, actual sealing wax has a long history with many different ingredients used.
Page also mentions the need to remove it for service, and fails to mention any need to replace it. Same old question...why was it put there, and if there was a why, why aren't there any notes on replacing it after the tuneup?
And...distributors were made by a number of suppliers including Standard and Autolite. Could the wax have been added by one of them, perhaps one only?
Page confidently states that Model A distributors were made by American Bosch, for what that's worth in this muddle.

[Will N]

I'd bet that the ones that Brattons and Snyders are selling are made by A&L.

[Mitch//pa]

Originally Posted by Will N

I'd bet that the ones that Brattons and Snyders are selling are made by A&L.

From what Jim Brand posted u can bank on that... its not possible to tell what its made of when doing a visual look at the dist...which is a good thing..

They have a tiny bit of a textured look on the exterior face but thats hard to see unless very close up..

[jb-ob]

Re-creating the original texture was a problem which took several attempts.

Allen is a huge asset to our hobby. JB

JB

[Russ/40]

They look more like the two plugs that go in the bottom of the early v8 distributors.

[1931 flamingo]

Picked mine up today in person at A&L, along with a few other items needed before the season starts here.
Paul in CT

[Mitch//pa]

Originally Posted by 1931 flamingo

Picked mine up today in person at A&L, along with a few other items needed before the season starts here.
Paul in CT

Nice

[Nabco]

I added a couple into my order from Snyder's last night will be here tomorrow....thanks Mitch

[SeaSlugs]

Could the wax henry plugs be more for a "tamper evident" type of plug? Much like the lead seal stamping holding the spedometer case together to show if its ever been tampered with...