Distributor Help for my Barn Find 1950 Fastback

[Theturtle]

I am in final stages of getting the engine to run again after a rebuild.  I think the engine is from a rebuilder back in the day. The engine number does not start with a P or D.  It did run with this distributor when I brought it home.

 

Distributor part number is Autolite 1300 795.  In a braindead moment I sent the vacuum advance off for renewal but did not confirm the breaker plate operation.  Now I find that the ball bearing race on the lower part of breaker plate is seized so it will not turn to enable vacuum advance.  The distributor seems usable (no play in the shaft and the points look good).  I plan to use it for now with the plate locked up blocking the vacuum advance feature.  

 

I would like to replace the breaker plate assembly to enable vacuum advance to work but I can't find a listing for this distributor or a part number source for a replacement breaker plate.   This distributor is not in the parts list I have for the car.  Can someone point me to a source for info on this distributor and a replacement breaker plate? 

 

 

[desoto1939]

Here is the information that you need to determine what is the Autolite Model number of the Dist:

 

Look on the plate that is attached to the body of the dist then this is the model of the sist that you use to get the appropriate parts for your Dist

 

I have a complete Autolite catalog that will tell you all of the info that you need for your car.

 

Rich Hartung

Desoto1939@aol.com

 

[Theturtle]

Thanks for reply, Rich.  My distributor does not show up in a search under 1950 Plymouth P19.  I think that my distributor is from some other machine - maybe some piece of farm equipment.  

 

It would be great if you can do a search for Autolite distributor part number 1300 795 in the Autolite catalog.  Can you start the search by distributor number and find the breaker plate assembly that way?  Or is it just by the application on which the distributor is being used?  

 

Curious that my Parts Catalog for the Plymouth shows distributors with numbers like my distributor (1233 584,1479 589) so there are a couple of numbering schemes for these.  I have a lot to learn.

[9 foot box]

   When looking for distributor parts, use the use the model number.  IAP-4103A-1 for instance, not the 1300795 part number. I have two distributors with those numbers.

[desoto1939]

Theturtle:  You wil have to open the hood to your car and then use a flashlight and maybe even a mirror. You need to look at the tag on the body of the distributor to get the model number.  When ordering parts for your dizzy the parts supplied needs to know the model number.  The numbers that you are provviding are the MoPar part number but we need the autolite model number.

 

My catalog does not list the mopar number.

 

Rich

[greg g]

Distributors are interchange able engine to engine except 25 inch and 23.5 won't.  There were3 or 4 different ones used for each famly  caps, rotors and points are also different.  I have a 1954 Dodge Truk distributor in my 56 car engine.  Looking at the advance charts in the service manual it appears the differences are incremental increases in when and how much mechanical advance is dialed in.  It seems as compression ratios went up advance curves got quicker.  This is a good time to pull your distributor and get the right number so you can get the right parts and do the distributor service one the bench or in a vise.  Much easier than trying to install points. Get the engine turned so their cam is on a high spot, and set the gap while bent over the fender.  standing one footed on an upside down Harbor Frieght bucket.  Just note and mark the position of the vacuum advance position and mark it with chalk or paint pen, then note and mark the rotor position to the distributor  body, remove and move aside the cap and wires, disconnect the wire from coil.  Loosen and remove the hold down bolt and wiggle jiggle while pulling the dist out.  Let us know if you have an IGS, IAP. or other.

[desoto1939]

I did a search on the internet and found the following information regarding dist# 1300795.

 

So by justing trying to find information just by the MoPar number I was able to provide the below information.  Always try to do some investigation on your own you might find the answer and also you might find a vendor that has the part.

This then provided me with the following info and the breaker plate is IAP3004RE

 

IAP.3OO4RE BBEAKEB PLATE ASSEMBLY* IAP.lO()4RE PLATE-LOWEB IGS.lO92BS PLATE_UPPEB Used on Dodge 1949-50 Plymouth 1949-50

SO by looking at the lisiting you have a P20 Plymouth Dist # IAP-4103A-1

 

Rich hartung   Desoto1939@aol.com

 

Distributor Breaker Plate:

This is a NOS distributor breaker plate for ALL of the years & models listed below with 6 cylinder engines. Distributor number is 1300795. NEW original Chrysler/Autolite part. See below for Engine info.

Part Number:

1308180 [Autolite IAP3004RE]

Years:

1950

 

 

 

 

 

[greg g]

Rich, does your catalog go through 59? If so can you post those years also?  This info would be a great addition to the resources down loads section. 

Thkx. G

[desoto1939]

another way to look at parts is to purchase a rate book that covers your car. They ususally are found at swap meets at a very small cost.  The nice think about a rate book is that it supplies you with lots of parts information and also acts as a cross reference manual for your car.  You will be surprise at what you will learn by jus reading the section on your car.

 

I have several and these are great items to have along with the service manual and parts manual.

 

Rich Hartung

desoto1939@aol.com 

[desoto1939]

2 minutes ago, greg g said:

Rich, does your catalog go through 59? If so can you post those years also?  This info would be a great addition to the resources down loads section. 

Thkx. G

I only go up to 54

[greg g]

OK.  think about uploading.

[Theturtle]

Rich and Greg, thanks.  Your info absolutely vital to those of us not in the know.  

 

I now see that my distributor is model IAP 4103A1 which uses an IAP3004RE Breaker Plate Assembly.  That part seems to be available and I have ordered one.  

 

I have another distributor here that is almost the same.  Interesting to see that on it, instead rotating the breaker plate on a complex set of ball bearings, the breaker plate just pivots on a pin.  As a retired accountant it looks to me like that was a great cost reduction back in the day.

[Los_Control]

While no expert .... I never liked the rotate on ball bearing style .... too much room for sloppy and non working conditions.

A later plate attached to a pin to rotate on .... thats where I would spend my time.

 

I only saw or worked on 1 distributor with ball bearing rotating plates .... I never liked the style or the actual product.

I realize they did work .... not anything I would want to install on my engine.

 

I also suspect, yours was rough but with some time and care you could have taken it apart and made it work again .... A little TLC.

 

We are talking about ball bearings and they need to be cleaned up .... 2 plates that rotate and also need to be cleaned up ..... are you sure you want to rebuild this?

Not a big job and doubt you need new parts. ..... well maybe some wiring..... Such a basic function though.

[Theturtle]

Agree with your thoughts on the ball bearing approach.  The later plate design looks much simpler and better.  My breaker plate assembly is corroded beyond repair but the distributor has a shaft with no play, is plumbed in with a rebuilt vacuum boost.  I expect with the new breaker plate assembly, a condenser check and clean-up/lube of the weights it will be OK. 

 

Thanks for the comments.

[Los_Control]

Maybe if I try a more sensible approach .... I'm not really a bad guy.

 

My first truck I bought was a 1949 3/4 ton.

It had a 1/2 ton front axle installed and a 1938 engine. ..... Just a farmers truck with mis matched parts.

The 1938 engine did have the ball bearing distributor installed.

 

So in a different approach, are you sure you have the original 1950  engine with the correct distributor for it?

The engines were so close that it was easy to swap engines or parts to keep them running. .... like a older distributor.

 

My 1950 218 engine does not have the old skhool ball bearing distributor .... my earlier 1938 engine did have the ball bearing distributor.

 

Hey if it floats your boat fine ..... but the distributor you are repairing is for a much older engine and will work .... I would rather find a newer modern distributor to replace it with .... one that would have come out in 1950. ...... Use to be able to get them from Napa or Rock Auto a few years ago .... no idea today.

[desoto1939]

I have the old style breaker plate with the small ball bearings in between the two halves.  The car has been running on this style for over 85 years on my 39 Desoto. Yes on the NOS Breaker plate for my car I clean out the old grease that was used to lubricate the ball bearings.  Just like anything on an older car you have to maintain certain things to keep them free and moving. I also still have the distributor that came with the car from the factory. And rotate the grease cap to keep the inner bushings lubricated. I do that every two months.

 

So the older parts are fine and work just fine.

 

Rich Hartung

Desoto1939@aol.com

[Los_Control]

3 hours ago, desoto1939 said:

The car has been running on this style for over 85 years on my 39 Desoto.

That is frigging awesome, I love the way the old cars were made .... they just worked and could be maintained. They will last forever properly taken care of.

 

3 hours ago, desoto1939 said:

I clean out the old grease that was used to lubricate the ball bearings.  Just like anything on an older car you have to maintain certain things to keep them free and moving.

This is perfect for someone maintaining a 1930's vehicle ...... For those of us with a modern 1950 vehicle 🤣 ..... We no longer need to do this maintenance chore.

 

@Theturtle this is my only point, you said it is the distributor that came with the engine and we know it will work.

I just suspect that it is not the correct distributor for your year of car .... without the numbers stamped on the engine block, no idea what year/size you have.

I would want to know that information if it was mine ..... post the numbers.

 

There were the usual P, C, D, T, then IND ... for industrial ... maybe more I'm no expert. It is important to know if it was a Industrial engine. They had some oddities in the distributor/camshaft area .... they were designed to run at one set speed. ..... It would be good to know what engine you do have.

Also back then you could buy a new engine block with no numbers stamped in it. .... It was up to the builder to stamp in the number.

While it would make sense to copy the original number that matches the title .... they might stamp in the invoice number for their own warranty.

 

I just see a mystery and it gets me curious ..... A 1930's distributor in a 1950's car with a engine with unusual numbers.

[desoto1939]

53 minutes ago, Los_Control said:

That is frigging awesome, I love the way the old cars were made .... they just worked and could be maintained. They will last forever properly taken care of.

 

This is perfect for someone maintaining a 1930's vehicle ...... For those of us with a modern 1950 vehicle 🤣 ..... We no longer need to do this maintenance chore.

 

@Theturtle this is my only point, you said it is the distributor that came with the engine and we know it will work.

I just suspect that it is not the correct distributor for your year of car .... without the numbers stamped on the engine block, no idea what year/size you have.

I would want to know that information if it was mine ..... post the numbers.

 

There were the usual P, C, D, T, then IND ... for industrial ... maybe more I'm no expert. It is important to know if it was a Industrial engine. They had some oddities in the distributor/camshaft area .... they were designed to run at one set speed. ..... It would be good to know what engine you do have.

Also back then you could buy a new engine block with no numbers stamped in it. .... It was up to the builder to stamp in the number.

While it would make sense to copy the original number that matches the title .... they might stamp in the invoice number for their own warranty.

 

I just see a mystery and it gets me curious ..... A 1930's distributor in a 1950's car with a engine with unusual numbers.

Los Control: If you follow the entire posting this owner verified that the correct distributor is current installed in his engine block. I had attached a page from my Autolite Manual with the year specific models and this matches his car. So according to what the owner replied back to me he has the correct dizzy and has also ordered the correct breaker plate for the dizzy and his car also has the Vaccuum Advance module.

 

Each owner can do what ever they please to do with their car/truck. All I was trying to do is help the owner verify the installed equiptment so he could continue on with getting the engine running. Maybe this gentleman wants to have the period correct parts and not switch out to other parts. We all know that the original parts will perform in his car.

 

Rich hartung

desoto1939@aol.com

[OUTFXD]

Pull the breaker plate off and soak the bearing in White Vinegar  to free it up again.