Junk in the Trunk

[JohnTeee]

Don C. recently implied I did not have enough junk in the trunk. After my recent escapades, I plan to carry spare fuel filters. I'm thinking about adding some other spares for road trips. Any suggestions for important spares?

I currently have these spares on the shelf:

v-belt

head gasket

fuel pump

starter

generator

Considerations to add, that I don't yet have:

water pump

Which brings my next question . . I HAVE a Chrysler Auto-Lite distributor, but it's a 1AT-4101C. Is this from a '54 Plymouth? Seems like the points are on the opposite side, mirror image to my current dizzy; the cap is smaller. Does the point setup mean it turns counter-clockwise and is incompatible? Is a 1AP-410A-1 compatible?

I found this info on Second Chance Garage:

1946: 1GS-4207-1 (distributor rotates clockwise)

1947: 1GS-4207-1

1948: 1GS-4207-1

1949: 1GS-4207B-1, 1AP-4103-1, 1AP-4103A-1

1950: 1GS-4207B-1, 1AP-4103-1, 1AP-4103A-1, 1AT-4003

Dodge 230

1946: 1GS-4207A-1 (distributor rotates clockwise)

1947: 1GS-4207A-1

1948: 1GS-4207A-1

1949: D30: 1GS-4207B-1; D29: 1AP-4103A-1

1950: D30: 1GS-4207B-1; D29: 1AP-4103A-1, 1AT-4003

So the two I listed are 'none of the above' . . .

Cheers!

John

[Young Ed]

Is this from a '54 Plymouth? Seems like the points are on the opposite side, mirror image to my current dizzy; the cap is smaller. Does the point setup mean it turns counter-clockwise and is incompatible? Is a 1AP-410A-1 compatible?

Nope just means its a slightly different design. Put the new tuneup parts in it and carry it around to drop in and go.

[greg g]

No points position make no difference, all dists are interchangable within the block size.

25 in engine's drive tangs are longer. The important thing to do is take the dist number when your order parts, as the points rotor and caps are not interchangable between dist numbers.

I am running one from a 53 truck, in the car and carry a ready to drop in one from a 49 Dodge in my go box. The main difference is in the advance curves, but they vary so slightly, I don't believe they make a noticable difference in the way the engines run. I did have all my dists run on an old SUN machine. This allows you to compare the mechanical and vacuum advance to the specs of the dist. The two I have most closely match their factory numbers. The one from the original engine is a little off so it is third stringer.

I carry a belt, head gasket, extra plugs, one 6V headlamp, a couple fuel filters. along with the dist. The only things I have changed road side are fuel filters, and the fan belt once.

Edited December 14, 2011 by greg g

[JohnTeee]

Thanks Ed and Greg. Nice to know I've got a spare on hand already! I'll start looking for parts for it.

I Also have spare plugs and lights on the shelf; those are good ideas. I know there's a happy medium between too much stuff and nothing; there's also a lot of parts that you can't just walk in and pick up at the store.

Cheers!

John

[JohnTeee]

BTW . . . is this a '1AT-4101C' with a 'one' or 'IAT-4101C' with an 'I'. You can see the label is a little battleworn.

Cheers!

John

[Young Ed]

Its IAT. I believe I'm running one of those in my 48 after my points setscrew stipped out.

[JohnTeee]

Hi Ed,

That's what I thought it looked like. Then I found Second Chance Garage listing it as "1AT-4101C".

If I search for parts for a '54 Plymouth Plaza, Savoy orBelvedere, I should be spot on . . .

Cheers!

John

[Don Coatney]

Tang length.

Short block.

Long block.

[JohnTeee]

Oh, sure Don. Yours is bigger! Thanks, I'll check that before I start buying parts. The 54 Plymouth apparently was still in the 217 C.I. range, so I'm 'guessing' short block. Will double check that though!

Cheers!

John

P.S. Don C. comes through with ANOTHER useful set of pictures!

[JohnTeee]

Well, turns out Don's is NOT bigger. This unit, at 5.25", is apparently for a long block dizzy. Between that and the vacuum advance being inop, I guess it will not do. Thanks for the pic Don.

Cheers!

[Don Coatney]

My books only go to 1953. I could not find a 1AT-4101C listed. If the link you posted to Second Chance garage has correct information then your distributor should be for a short block. But your measurement shows different. Any one have a 54 Motors Manual or other publication that shows the correct application for a 1AT-4101C?

[Young Ed]

Could the C at the end be Canadian?

[Don Coatney]

Could the C at the end be Canadian?

May be a very good possibility.

After I made this posting I happened to recall that I have a Caniadian distributor out in the garage. I just checked it and the tag is missing.

Edited December 15, 2011 by Don Coatney

[drillmastertommy]

I was looking for some info on an electronic ignition setup today and in the process took the detail IAT-4101 from my Chrysler corp auto-lite dizzy which is currently running nicely in my 53' Plymouth 218 23" block.

Hope that might help some....

[Don Coatney]

John;

The distributor I am sending you is as follows.

IGS 4207-1 This is for a P-15

Specifications as follows.

cam angle 35-38 degrees

Point gap .020"

Condenser capacity MFDS (that is micro fereds) .25-.28

Breaker arm tension 17-20 ounces

centrifical advance

starts 3 degrees @ 400 RPM's and is full in 9 degrees @ 1300 RPM's

Vacuum advance

starts 2 degrees @ 6 3/4 inches of mercury

full in 10 degrees @ 14 inches of mercury

You will need a vacuum generator to correctly set your vacuum advance. Do a search as I have posted how to do this many times.

The vacuum advance on the distributor I am sending does not work. However you get a bonus as I found a new cap and rotor for this distributor and included them in the box.

Vacuum generator picture.

[Don Coatney]

the part # looks like 1571756

if so that would indicate use in a P25 from engine #133965 to 243001, with P25 engine #'s after 243001 using 1546755

John sent me a better shot of the tang measurement. Clearly for a long block. Even though the part number is for a P-15 with a 218 engine the "C" must indicate it is for a Caniadian car. John also said the distributor cap is smaller. The cap on my Desoto long block is also smaller.

[JohnTeee]

John;

The distributor I am sending you is as follows.

Thanks Don! More learning for me! Guess I'll have to look for one of those vacuum pumps . . .

John

[Don Coatney]

I had a not so plesant surprise this morning. When I boxed up the distributor I used a wine box because it was about the right size and sturdy enough for the job. This morning I found this box sitting outside my garage door with the pictured note attached. What really bugs me is when I sent this box the USPS counter person ask me if the box contained any hazardous materials etc. I replied "no it contains car parts". She gave me a go ahead and accepted the box for shipment.

I will return to the post office now that I have used a sharpie to black out all wine information. I will go off on them if they expect me to pay once again to send this.

I have wined enough for now.

[bamfordsgarage]

A couple years ago I went to mail some books to the US packaged in a six-bottle wine box. The package was refused by our postal counter here — the clerk said the USPS will not accept any packaging with "advertising" on it. I had the impression it was any type of corporate logos etc, not just alcoholic. Anyway, I second-wrapped the parcel in plain brown paper (they were not those kind of books) and off it went.

[greg g]

Hmmmm, all those LL Bean, Amazon. Jc Penny, Netflix labled stuff comes through with no problem. Those if it fits it ships boxes the PO sells work pretty good for stuff like that.

[Don Coatney]

I returned to the post office ready to go postal if required. I went through the line and by chance got the same clerk as when I first mailed the package. I did not speak but simply placed the box on her scale. She remembered me and asked what happened? I still did not speak for fear of what I might say but instead I pulled the note as pictured above out of my pocket and placed it on top of the box. She read the note and her jaw dropped. At that time I realised that this incident was a bad mark on her duties and she felt very bad. She looked all over the box and started pasting first class labels everywhere there was any indication of a banned substance. Once that was done she apologized to me and said the box is now ready to go. I then said "thank you" and left.

I feel much better now.

[JohnTeee]

I had a not so plesant surprise this morning. When I boxed up the distributor I used a wine box because it was about the right size and sturdy enough for the job.

I'm just upset to learn that you are not including a nice Chianti . . .

Cheers!

John

[bamfordsgarage]

Hmmmm, all those LL Bean, Amazon. Jc Penny, Netflix labled stuff comes through with no problem...

Good point. Maybe the problem was that the box did not contain the item indicated on the outside, and/or was not from the company printed on the outside. Or maybe it is just a problem with liquor-related boxes... the Canadian Postal Clerk was certain (based on actual experience) it would be rejected if my parcel went out looking like a wine carton.

[Niel Hoback]

You cannot mail liquids. I tried sending used parts in an old Shell motor oil case and they wouldn't accept it. No liquids or explsives.

[Don Coatney]

John;

The distributor you sent arrived yesterday evening. I unwrapped it this morning. Must be a difference in our tape measures. First picture is the distributor you sent, second picture is a long block distributor. It appears you sent me a short block distributor.