T-16 distributor: which one?

[rob love]

Can someone with a T-16 manual tell me which distributor was used according to the parts manual? Was it the crab type, or the later flat 8 cap with the V cover? The T-16 here in Shilo does not currently have a distributor fitted, and I found both styles in the storeroom.

[horsa]

It's the diving helmet type with a cap on either side. Coil was mounted originally on top of the distributor but later they had a remote mount since it was easier to get to and had less heat. Adapters are available for the remote mounting wire and top plate for the distributor if you check with Dennis Carpenter Ford.

[rob love]

Hmmmm, surprising they were still using that distributor that late in the war. Personally, I think it is the worst one you could stick in front of a carrier engine, particularly with the coil that close to the hot radiator.

Thanks for the reply. I spotted one of those distributors on the loose at the museum, guess we'll be pressing it back into service.

[horsa]

Ford was using what they had from other projects for the T-16. The fan belts came from the Ford M7 medium tank and the hull drain plugs came from the Ford Deerhound. Both really never got off the ground. Lots of Ford jeep and GPA parts in the mix as well as Ford commercial truck parts.

Add to that the coil on the T-16 was still 6-volt while the battery was 12-volt. So keep that in mind if using a distributor top mounted original type coil as opposed to a 12-volt canister type mounted on the side of the block. Sure a lot of people have burned up 6-volt coils for lack of having the right components to step the voltage down.

[rob love]

Good tip David. I think we may go with the remote mounted coil of 12 volt persuasion.

[ajmac]

You can tell what dissy yours requires by the timing cover type. The early divers helmet type has three bolts holding it down where as the later crab has only two. Post war adaptor plates became available but not during ww2 AFAIK.