The Ford Barn

mkmskm · 12-12-2011, 09:22 AM

When I took apart the old distributor that came with an engine that I'm rebuilding the shaft was one piece. All of the kits that I see they are two piece. Why the difference?

JBR · 12-12-2011, 09:26 AM

It allows for some flex in the shaft.

Terry, NJ · 12-12-2011, 09:36 AM

I was wondering the same thing! Why do we want flexibility in the shaft?
Terry

George Miller · 12-12-2011, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkmskm

When I took apart the old distributor that came with an engine that I'm rebuilding the shaft was one piece. All of the kits that I see they are two piece. Why the difference?

The one piece shaft was a after market shaft. They came from the factory with the two piece.

mkmskm · 12-12-2011, 09:50 AM

So is the two piece a later "better idea" in the aftermarket parts world or was this a change in later years of the A itself?

Kurt in NJ · 12-12-2011, 09:53 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

alignment ---this way the drive gear and the dist can be off some ---the one piece shaft allows the use of worn bushings ---the misalignment pushes the shaft sideways and allows for a short term improvement in cam gear location---

John LaVoy · 12-12-2011, 10:22 AM

The two piece was the original design, the one piece came out as "fix" later. Use the two piece it releases some of the pressure on the bushings.

Tom Wesenberg · 12-12-2011, 12:03 PM

I would do it the original way, with a 2 piece shaft. Using a smooth flat file, I've had to take a few strokes on the shaft ends of some repro shafts to make them fit together.

mkmskm · 12-12-2011, 02:10 PM

Thanks for the information. I had already ordered the complete rebuild kit Saturday, as I knew I would need everything but the housing. I also planned to switch it over to the modern plate, and then Sunday when I took the old one apart it suprised me that I couldn't get the two ends to come apart, and when I pulled the whole thing out the top then I realized why - hey this isn't two pieces!

2manycars · 12-12-2011, 02:18 PM

The reason for the 2 piece shaft is that the distributor is mounted in the head, not the block. The head is not indexed to the block like modern engines, which have pins or bushings to align the head precisely. The head on a model A can be installed several thousandth of an inch off from exact, so there needs to be a sort of universal joint in the shaft, or the shaft bushings in the distributor will wear.

12-12-2011, 09:22 AM	#1
mkmskm Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Kansas City Posts: 202	distributor shaft question When I took apart the old distributor that came with an engine that I'm rebuilding the shaft was one piece. All of the kits that I see they are two piece. Why the difference?

12-12-2011, 09:26 AM	#2
JBR Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Iowa Posts: 346	Re: distributor shaft question It allows for some flex in the shaft.

12-12-2011, 09:36 AM	#3
Terry, NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks Co, Pa Posts: 3,740	Re: distributor shaft question I was wondering the same thing! Why do we want flexibility in the shaft? Terry

12-12-2011, 09:50 AM	#5
mkmskm Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Kansas City Posts: 202	Re: distributor shaft question So is the two piece a later "better idea" in the aftermarket parts world or was this a change in later years of the A itself?

12-12-2011, 09:53 AM	#6
Kurt in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: on the Littlefield Posts: 6,159	Re: distributor shaft question Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) alignment ---this way the drive gear and the dist can be off some ---the one piece shaft allows the use of worn bushings ---the misalignment pushes the shaft sideways and allows for a short term improvement in cam gear location---

12-12-2011, 10:22 AM	#7
John LaVoy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Rocklin, CA Posts: 1,219	Re: distributor shaft question The two piece was the original design, the one piece came out as "fix" later. Use the two piece it releases some of the pressure on the bushings.

12-12-2011, 12:03 PM	#8
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: distributor shaft question I would do it the original way, with a 2 piece shaft. Using a smooth flat file, I've had to take a few strokes on the shaft ends of some repro shafts to make them fit together. Last edited by Tom Wesenberg; 12-12-2011 at 10:14 PM.

12-12-2011, 02:10 PM	#9
mkmskm Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Kansas City Posts: 202	Re: distributor shaft question Thanks for the information. I had already ordered the complete rebuild kit Saturday, as I knew I would need everything but the housing. I also planned to switch it over to the modern plate, and then Sunday when I took the old one apart it suprised me that I couldn't get the two ends to come apart, and when I pulled the whole thing out the top then I realized why - hey this isn't two pieces!

12-12-2011, 02:18 PM	#10
2manycars Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Eastern CT Posts: 2,732	Re: distributor shaft question The reason for the 2 piece shaft is that the distributor is mounted in the head, not the block. The head is not indexed to the block like modern engines, which have pins or bushings to align the head precisely. The head on a model A can be installed several thousandth of an inch off from exact, so there needs to be a sort of universal joint in the shaft, or the shaft bushings in the distributor will wear.