Distributor position dilemma.

[Ivan_B]

Hi everyone. 1940 201, with the stock IGS-4109-1 distributor.

I finally managed to replace my old vacuum advance diaphragm, so it now holds vacuum. It's time to do proper vacuum line routing and I am having problems with the correct distributor position. When I bought the car, the coil wire tab was at 12 o'clock, the vacuum advance unit at 4:30; based upon some old pictures I found, this appears to be the correct OEM position for these cars. However, when installed this way, my grease cup is hitting the timing adjustment screw and is obstructing the block drain valve. When I removed the vacuum advance unit for repairs, I turned the distributor 60-degrees CW, so that the grease cup is in the clear, but now the vacuum advance is a bit too close to the steering box. I know, on later cars, the vacuum advance unit is mounted at 10:30 (180 degrees around). Any ideas how they managed to fit everything on the 36-42 models? 😐

[Dave72dt]

Why not use a 90 degree fitting instead of the straight and I suspect a steel line for the vacuum was used instead of rubber.

[vintage6t]

This is the only picture I have from my 41 Plymouth. It's not too clear, but the vacuum advance is pointing diagonally up toward the front of the engine. It's next to the oil fill/breather tube.

 

Vacuum line runs across the top of the head. In my case it's a steel line, but that does not matter. If you're using rubber, make sure it's made for vacuum and does not collapse when vacuum is applied.

 

[Ivan_B]

@Dave72dt don't pay attention to the hose barb, this is just for vacuum testing. There will be a 90-degree fitting and a copper line going over the head, just like it is supposed to 😉

@vintage6t thanks for the picture. This appears to be the later-style 10:30 position. According to my research, the earlier cars had it pointing the opposite direction, at 4:30, and that's the problem. It does not seem to fit well this way 🙄

 

Ihazwings have it mounted correctly, but his distributor is different (41 had a different model number) with a liquid oiler, at the opposite side of the vacuum advance unit.

[Ivan_B]

Did a bit more research in the old forum threads. Here is a setup with a liquid oiler the way I have it right now (and presumably incorrect):

 

And here is the OEM position:

How does the oiler clear the timing adjustment screw? 😲

[Los_Control]

My opinion is kinda worthless here .... I say it is wrong though!!! 🤣🤣🤣

 

My first 1949 Dodge truck had a 1938 Dodge 218 engine in it .... It was a farmers truck, A 3/4 ton truck with a 1/2 ton front axle and a 1938 engine installed.

Just my opinion about a 1938 218 engine still shows your vacuum advance pointing in the wrong direction.

Just the simple issue of connecting a factory hard line vacuum line to it is awkward. ..... Even if the factory actually installed it in this position on a 201 .... they quickly realized it was the wrong way to route it. ..... Is this a special one off car that did it wrong the first time? ... I doubt it.

 

I agree the oiler is almost worthless in the position they are in ... they really are not any better if located on top. You still need a bottle with a hose connected .... just like you would with a speedometer under the dashboard.

 

Even if you are correct thinking your engine came this way, they quickly learned it was wrong and changed it on latter models .... again, 1938 218 had it set correctly.

[Ivan_B]

Los,

 

Do you have some illustrations of the presumably OEM setup for the 1938? All the materials, I am finding, seem to indicate that it must be mounted like on my last picture. And I am mostly going by the 1938-1941 Plymouth commercials, so these are authentic historic records 🙃

 

@desoto1939 Rich, do you have an opinion on this one? I saw you've discussed the different distributors, in depth, about 11 years ago 😅

[Los_Control]

42 minutes ago, Ivan_B said:

Do you have some illustrations of the presumably OEM setup for the 1938?

The best I have ..... I can not swear this was original .... A farmer owned it! .... Say hello to Molly.

 

 

Possible if we blow the image up we can verify it was a 1938 ... what I came up with.

While I went through the distributor and installed it back the way I found it ..... I was really skeptical if my work on the early style distributor would work.

The points plate rotated on ball bearings and they were pretty rough when I assembled it ..... A future Fred problem if I had distributor issues.

 

This is a 1938 engine installed in a 1949 truck and the old style distributor came with the older engine ... as far as I know.

 

I ended up giving the truck away and never did get the engine started .... so I dunno.

 

[Sniper]

42 minutes ago, Los_Control said:

never did get the engine started

 

Probably because the distributor was in the wrong position

 

🤣

 

Joke, son, I say that was a joke. 

 

[Los_Control]

Actually had stuck valves with no compression, had to pull the head to free them and never put it back together   

Bought my house and moved 1500 miles away.

[Ivan_B]

Los,

 

Thanks for the picture, but this engine has been obviously tinkered with, a lot.

I think I might've figured-out what's going on, here. My #1 plug firing position is currently at 6 o'clock, while it is supposed to be at 7. I suspect that my oil pump is one tooth off, and this is probably what's causing the oiler cap to hit the timing adjustment screw. I'll re-clock the pump and see if it clears 😀

[desoto1939]

that will definitely affect the position of how the dizzy is installed in the block.

 

Let us know after you have re-indexed the oil pump.

 

Rich Hartung