The Ford Barn

slopokpete · 01-01-2026, 07:45 PM

I am in the process of swapping engines (both 59AB) in my early 1947 Ford. This is fairly original car with a lot of miles on the odometer.
Several years ago I had the distributer from my original engine rebuilt and a Pertronix installed.
It is the crab style with a one piece cap with the wires coming out the side of the cap.
My donor engine (from a 46 or 47) was also from a fairly original car with much lower miles.
This engine has the two piece cap style distributer.
My plan was to just swap distributers. These are both two bolt distributors.
Here's the reason for this post.
The back of the distributers are different. The crab distributor extends farther and the end of the cam is farther in from the face of the cover. You can see the difference in the depth of the distributers when holding them side by side.
So is there a solution that will allow me to swap these?

Thanks

big deuce · 01-01-2026, 07:54 PM

https://vintageautogarage.com/ford-f...jzJOyAUkWF4mUY

slopokpete · 01-01-2026, 08:08 PM

My dilemma is trying to fit the crab style distributer (deeper on the back) to the engine that had the two piece cap style ( shorter on the back).
Is it possible that my donor engine has one of these adapters from the factory?

big deuce · 01-01-2026, 08:20 PM

Can you post pics of the two distributors? I wouldn't think there is an adapter from the factory, possibly the cam with the longer nose. May need to space the distributor out if your cam nose is long.
http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/F...-spacerkit.jpg

Brian · 01-01-2026, 08:40 PM

eBay item # 389210121932 is what you'll need

Lawrie · 01-02-2026, 12:14 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

and use the one with points.
Lawrie

rotorwrench · 01-02-2026, 01:06 PM

The crab type was developed for the 1942 model Year which was short lived in that the US became involved in the war and shut down auto production in February of 1942. During the war, a more sealed design was developed that became the rabbit ear type distributor with the two piece cap. It was continued in service after the war but it's pretty easy to convert to fit the crab type cap. Some were aluminum and some were cast iron if I remember correctly. During the later 60s and 70s, the rabbit ear type cap components were not available so most folks converted them to the crab type so they could keep the 59 series engines running. Eventually the two piece caps were reproduced as they are today.

The 1941 or 01A distributor was the last of the diver helmet types and the "new" crab for 42 was a one year deal in civilian production. Another thing to watch for is that some were made for the G series 6-cylinder and they are different but similar in appearance. There are adapters available to use 2-bolt types on a 3-bolt cover and there are long cam adapters as well for some aftermarket applications.

Mart · 01-02-2026, 03:08 PM

Something needs clarifying here. If both distributors are "crab" type (albeit with different caps) then they should both have long snouts on the back. Different adaptors exist to allow mismatched components to be used.
Look for a spacer to put the distributor about 3/8" forward, and a "button" to extend a short cam. Also look for a 3 to 2 bolt adaptor while you're at it.
Without knowing exactly what you have it is difficult to offer advice.
Many would say use the points and I think I would be one of them.
Mart.

47topless · 01-02-2026, 04:40 PM

Give Charlie Schwedler a call. He will tell you exactly what you need and , if you send all your stuff to him for a rebuild, you will get back a perfect unit.
Charlie NY 716 662 9159

cas3 · 01-03-2026, 12:26 AM

I've always thought the 2 bolt base was the same, only difference being the rabbit cap and hold down bale VS the crab cap and shorter side clips. never seen a different length cam driver. Has someone been fooling around in there, or is this a stock ford part?

big deuce · 01-03-2026, 12:31 AM

Pete needs to post the pics of the two distributors in question, unless one of his engines has a longer nose came.

slopokpete · 01-03-2026, 01:30 PM

One distributor is the crab style and the other is a rabbit ear style. I am trying to install the crab style distributor on the engine that originally had the rabbit ear style and it was proud of the cover.

Two members pointed me to the adapter that will solve my dilemma!

I want to thank the members that provided help and guidance as well as an education on why there were two different style of distributors used on these engines.

01-01-2026, 07:45 PM	#1
slopokpete Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Ridgefield, WA Posts: 17	59AB Distributer Confusion I am in the process of swapping engines (both 59AB) in my early 1947 Ford. This is fairly original car with a lot of miles on the odometer. Several years ago I had the distributer from my original engine rebuilt and a Pertronix installed. It is the crab style with a one piece cap with the wires coming out the side of the cap. My donor engine (from a 46 or 47) was also from a fairly original car with much lower miles. This engine has the two piece cap style distributer. My plan was to just swap distributers. These are both two bolt distributors. Here's the reason for this post. The back of the distributers are different. The crab distributor extends farther and the end of the cam is farther in from the face of the cover. You can see the difference in the depth of the distributers when holding them side by side. So is there a solution that will allow me to swap these? Thanks

01-01-2026, 07:54 PM	#2
big deuce Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Kansas Posts: 734	Re: 59AB Distributer Confusion https://vintageautogarage.com/ford-f...jzJOyAUkWF4mUY

01-01-2026, 08:08 PM	#3
slopokpete Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Ridgefield, WA Posts: 17	Re: 59AB Distributer Confusion My dilemma is trying to fit the crab style distributer (deeper on the back) to the engine that had the two piece cap style ( shorter on the back). Is it possible that my donor engine has one of these adapters from the factory?

01-01-2026, 08:20 PM	#4
big deuce Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Kansas Posts: 734	Re: 59AB Distributer Confusion Can you post pics of the two distributors? I wouldn't think there is an adapter from the factory, possibly the cam with the longer nose. May need to space the distributor out if your cam nose is long. http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/F...-spacerkit.jpg Last edited by big deuce; 01-01-2026 at 09:35 PM.

01-01-2026, 08:40 PM	#5
Brian Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Masterton, New Zealand Posts: 4,097	Re: 59AB Distributer Confusion eBay item # 389210121932 is what you'll need __________________ Unfortunately, two half wits don't make a whole wit!

01-02-2026, 12:14 AM	#6
Lawrie Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Qld, Australia Posts: 4,728	Re: 59AB Distributer Confusion Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) and use the one with points. Lawrie

01-02-2026, 01:06 PM	#7
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 18,006	Re: 59AB Distributer Confusion The crab type was developed for the 1942 model Year which was short lived in that the US became involved in the war and shut down auto production in February of 1942. During the war, a more sealed design was developed that became the rabbit ear type distributor with the two piece cap. It was continued in service after the war but it's pretty easy to convert to fit the crab type cap. Some were aluminum and some were cast iron if I remember correctly. During the later 60s and 70s, the rabbit ear type cap components were not available so most folks converted them to the crab type so they could keep the 59 series engines running. Eventually the two piece caps were reproduced as they are today. The 1941 or 01A distributor was the last of the diver helmet types and the "new" crab for 42 was a one year deal in civilian production. Another thing to watch for is that some were made for the G series 6-cylinder and they are different but similar in appearance. There are adapters available to use 2-bolt types on a 3-bolt cover and there are long cam adapters as well for some aftermarket applications. Last edited by rotorwrench; 01-02-2026 at 01:38 PM.

01-02-2026, 03:08 PM	#8
Mart Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Solihull, England. Posts: 9,239	Re: 59AB Distributer Confusion Something needs clarifying here. If both distributors are "crab" type (albeit with different caps) then they should both have long snouts on the back. Different adaptors exist to allow mismatched components to be used. Look for a spacer to put the distributor about 3/8" forward, and a "button" to extend a short cam. Also look for a 3 to 2 bolt adaptor while you're at it. Without knowing exactly what you have it is difficult to offer advice. Many would say use the points and I think I would be one of them. Mart.

01-02-2026, 04:40 PM	#9
47topless Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2022 Location: Northern Colorado Posts: 496	Re: 59AB Distributer Confusion Give Charlie Schwedler a call. He will tell you exactly what you need and , if you send all your stuff to him for a rebuild, you will get back a perfect unit. Charlie NY 716 662 9159

01-03-2026, 12:26 AM	#10
cas3 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Beverly Kansas Posts: 5,557	Re: 59AB Distributer Confusion I've always thought the 2 bolt base was the same, only difference being the rabbit cap and hold down bale VS the crab cap and shorter side clips. never seen a different length cam driver. Has someone been fooling around in there, or is this a stock ford part?

01-03-2026, 12:31 AM	#11
big deuce Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Kansas Posts: 734	Re: 59AB Distributer Confusion Pete needs to post the pics of the two distributors in question, unless one of his engines has a longer nose came.

01-03-2026, 01:30 PM	#12
slopokpete Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Ridgefield, WA Posts: 17	Re: 59AB Distributer Confusion One distributor is the crab style and the other is a rabbit ear style. I am trying to install the crab style distributor on the engine that originally had the rabbit ear style and it was proud of the cover. Two members pointed me to the adapter that will solve my dilemma! I want to thank the members that provided help and guidance as well as an education on why there were two different style of distributors used on these engines.