The Ford Barn

benbuilder · 03-27-2026, 08:03 AM

I got a new project car yesterday.
It’s a 31 tudor. Engine looks clean. Oil looks clean. It went through a bunch of hands before before I got it, but I can’t get it started.
I noticed that when I turned the crank manually, the distributor doesn’t respond as quickly as I would think it should.
If I look at the distributor shaft inside the motor, and turn the crank over, I need to turn the crank from 12 o’clock till about 10:30 before the distributor responds.
If I put a screwdriver on the shaft and turn it inside the body of the block it has minimal play.
So would that mean it’s the camshaft gear or the timing gear?
Thoughts on that please?

1955cj5 · 03-27-2026, 08:17 AM

Are you turning the crank clockwise as viewed from the front?

Might just be a little more than normal lash.

Clean the contact surfaces on the ignition points, use 400 or so grit wet-or-dry sandpaper, dry, or use a proper point file.

Bob Bidonde · 03-27-2026, 08:27 AM

The crankshaft turns the camshaft that turns the distributor shaft. The crankshaft is the driver. The camshaft turns at 1/2 the RPM of the crankshaft. So one turn of the crankshaft clockwise turns the distributor shaft 1/2 of a turn counterclockwise.

benbuilder · 03-27-2026, 08:27 AM

OK. I am a novice. Going clockwise, it is minimal. now to check to see if any play in the distributer pieces
thanks

old ugly · 03-27-2026, 08:44 AM

any of these things might be a little worn. the timing gears, the center cam gear that drives the distributor shaft, the flats on the distributor shaft, and the drive that rides on the cam. lots of places that wear can exist. all those spots can do that.
if that dist drive that you have the screw driver in feels fairly tight put it back together.
grab the rotor and see how much twist is there.
if that is minimal
re-time it as per the service manual.
make sure the points are cleaned and making contact , test light. your 12volt light ,if it is not LED, will work on the 6 volt system.
you need to time it with a test light or ohm meter as per the book.
make sure it has compression, fuel, timed and spark that is what it needs to run.

nkaminar · 03-27-2026, 10:14 AM

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Take the cover off the engine on the starboard side in the front to expose the cam gear. If the cam gear is missing some teeth or in bad shape it will give you what you are seeing and the car will not start.

Will N · 03-27-2026, 10:19 AM

Cranking clockwise from 12:00 to 10:30 is nearly one full revolution of the crankshaft, and you're not seeing any movement of the distributor until then? That is not normal, the distributor should respond nearly immediately to any crank rotation. My guess is you have stripped teeth on your timing gear.

Werner · 03-27-2026, 01:39 PM

That's how it was with my A.

1955cj5 · 03-27-2026, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nkaminar

Take the cover off the engine on the starboard side in the front to expose the cam gear. If the cam gear is missing some teeth or in bad shape it will give you what you are seeing and the car will not start.

And don't forget there is a bolt that enters from underneath, through the oil pan flange...

benbuilder · 03-28-2026, 04:13 AM

"Cranking clockwise from 12:00 to 10:30 is nearly one full revolution of the crankshaft,"
I was stating it incorrectly- i should have said 10:30-12:00. And, i was going backwards. so that play is not accurate. When i went clockwise from the front i noticed it was minimal.
For some reason when i took out the distributor to look around and reinstalled it, the play disappeared.
Maybe it was not seated properly before i stsarted.
I will try again today. thank you for the help

chap52 · 03-28-2026, 07:22 AM

I knew a guy long ago that received a new distributor from a man called "Bubba". He installed the distributor and cranked the engine yet it would not start. After many frustrating attempts he called "Bubba" and the king patient gentleman walked him through the install / set-up procedure. Only to find that some air-head had installed the distributor 180 degrees out of time.
They both laughed and rejoiced at the discovery.
All this to say: You will get it figured out as long as you keep that gremlin out of your shop.
Thanks Bubba, you are dearly missed...
Chap

03-27-2026, 08:03 AM	#1
benbuilder Senior Member Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 122	Timing distributer question I got a new project car yesterday. It’s a 31 tudor. Engine looks clean. Oil looks clean. It went through a bunch of hands before before I got it, but I can’t get it started. I noticed that when I turned the crank manually, the distributor doesn’t respond as quickly as I would think it should. If I look at the distributor shaft inside the motor, and turn the crank over, I need to turn the crank from 12 o’clock till about 10:30 before the distributor responds. If I put a screwdriver on the shaft and turn it inside the body of the block it has minimal play. So would that mean it’s the camshaft gear or the timing gear? Thoughts on that please?

03-27-2026, 08:17 AM	#2
1955cj5 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 1,645	Re: Timing distributer question Are you turning the crank clockwise as viewed from the front? Might just be a little more than normal lash. Clean the contact surfaces on the ignition points, use 400 or so grit wet-or-dry sandpaper, dry, or use a proper point file. __________________ Early '29 CCPU that had a 4-speed, but not any more.......in the family since '62

03-27-2026, 08:27 AM	#3
Bob Bidonde Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 4,384	Re: Timing distributer question The crankshaft turns the camshaft that turns the distributor shaft. The crankshaft is the driver. The camshaft turns at 1/2 the RPM of the crankshaft. So one turn of the crankshaft clockwise turns the distributor shaft 1/2 of a turn counterclockwise. __________________ Bob Bidonde

03-27-2026, 08:27 AM	#4
benbuilder Senior Member Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 122	Re: Timing distributer question OK. I am a novice. Going clockwise, it is minimal. now to check to see if any play in the distributer pieces thanks

03-27-2026, 08:44 AM	#5
old ugly Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2021 Location: alberta canada Posts: 861	Re: Timing distributer question any of these things might be a little worn. the timing gears, the center cam gear that drives the distributor shaft, the flats on the distributor shaft, and the drive that rides on the cam. lots of places that wear can exist. all those spots can do that. if that dist drive that you have the screw driver in feels fairly tight put it back together. grab the rotor and see how much twist is there. if that is minimal re-time it as per the service manual. make sure the points are cleaned and making contact , test light. your 12volt light ,if it is not LED, will work on the 6 volt system. you need to time it with a test light or ohm meter as per the book. make sure it has compression, fuel, timed and spark that is what it needs to run. __________________ old ugly my mom would have told me. "these things are here to test us"

03-27-2026, 10:14 AM	#6
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 6,849	Re: Timing distributer question Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Take the cover off the engine on the starboard side in the front to expose the cam gear. If the cam gear is missing some teeth or in bad shape it will give you what you are seeing and the car will not start. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

03-27-2026, 10:19 AM	#7
Will N Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,335	Re: Timing distributer question Cranking clockwise from 12:00 to 10:30 is nearly one full revolution of the crankshaft, and you're not seeing any movement of the distributor until then? That is not normal, the distributor should respond nearly immediately to any crank rotation. My guess is you have stripped teeth on your timing gear.

03-28-2026, 04:13 AM	#10
benbuilder Senior Member Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 122	Re: Timing distributer question "Cranking clockwise from 12:00 to 10:30 is nearly one full revolution of the crankshaft," I was stating it incorrectly- i should have said 10:30-12:00. And, i was going backwards. so that play is not accurate. When i went clockwise from the front i noticed it was minimal. For some reason when i took out the distributor to look around and reinstalled it, the play disappeared. Maybe it was not seated properly before i stsarted. I will try again today. thank you for the help Last edited by benbuilder; 03-28-2026 at 04:32 AM.

03-28-2026, 07:22 AM	#11
chap52 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Marana Arizona Posts: 1,869	Re: Timing distributer question I knew a guy long ago that received a new distributor from a man called "Bubba". He installed the distributor and cranked the engine yet it would not start. After many frustrating attempts he called "Bubba" and the king patient gentleman walked him through the install / set-up procedure. Only to find that some air-head had installed the distributor 180 degrees out of time. They both laughed and rejoiced at the discovery. All this to say: You will get it figured out as long as you keep that gremlin out of your shop. Thanks Bubba, you are dearly missed... Chap