I ordered a set of points and condenser for my 50 Ford F-3 flathead V-8.
The points wouldn't work. They were made backwards from the points in the truck. The picture in parts lookup of the BWD (Borg Warner) points (A98V) for my truck didn't match what I have.
I discovered that the points for the 1949 -1953 Ford cars and 1953 ford trucks are what I have (BWD A97V). I was surprised that the distributors are different.
Then I read that I should have a 12 volt condenser. If someone knows a part # or where to get a 12 V condenser that fits in my distributor, please share that. Thank you, Patrick

 

I ordered a set of points as listed by Standard Motor Parts and they were a mirror image of what they should have been. I'll go look and see what the correct number is. I still have the box.

 

OK, The wrong ones that are listed is FD-8182. These are backwards.


The correct ones I got is FD-8081. Standard Motor Products.


I have a set of ECHLIN from NAPA but don't see a number on them.

 

Is your truck converted to 12v? Is that why you want a 12v condenser?

That's news to me that Cars and Trucks used different points, I don't believe it. What would be the point? (no pun intended!) The engines are virtually identical.

There should be a tag on the side of your distributor; what p/n is shown there?

 

Ross, First, I did convert to 12 V neg ground last year. In one forum, someone said that we should have a 12 volt condenser when running 12 volts.
Second, the only way to read the tag on the distributor without pulling it is with an inspection mirror. I think the tag says 3Bg. It is hard to read backward and upside down and get it right while holding a light and a mirror. I did find the oil hole cover at the front side of the distributor that I had forgot about. Guess I'll put some oil in it tomorrow. I'm thinking that my engine or at least the distributor is not original. Patrick

 

My engine is original, has cast iron distributor, still 6V pos ground. Points I got were backwards. SMP FD-8081 are correct for my truck.

 

The distributors I know of are 0BA-12127, 8BA-12127, and 7RA-12127. The 7RA and 8BA are the cast iron distributors, the 0BA is the aluminum. But they all use the same points, and I have one out of a '50 Car (the 0BA).

Yes, if 12v you need a 12v condenser and a 12v coil setup. If needed, you can connect it to the terminal on the bottom of the distributor housing, rather than under the cap. The body needs to be grounded on its body, tho.

 

Interesting, we converted the F6 around 1960 12vt neg grd. never had any problems
till this day, infact getting ready for this winter just went to napa all the tune up stuff for a V8 they had it. Now the condenser question? I am using what belonged in a
V8 originally ( 6vt pos grd) however the 12vts gets dropped down using a resistor, all
12vt points system have or should have a resistor so whats the difference??
Or an internally resistered coil........

 

About the 12 volt conversion, I am using a new 12 volt coil that says no external resistor required. Patrick

 

Two different points depending on which distributor you have. Thes are BWD part #s

Patrick

 

The ones on the left are what I have in my 52.

 

Something is wrong in B-W's catalog. Check NAPA p/n ECH CS753, then look at the Buyer's Guide (applications). It shows that part fitting all flathead V8's, 6's from 226 thru 223 and 144/170/200, in addition to 289/302 etc.
http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/Re...028%2b2028079#

The different construction of those two points means one distributor would have to be turning in the opposite direction, just ain't so.

Here are a Truck and Car distributor, Truck on the left. Everything inside is identical.

 

Ross, I looked at NAPA, like you said, and I agree with you about BWD catalog being wrong. I sent them a comment about it. Thanks, Patrick

 

Actually Ross, there were three different distributors and all three were used on both cars and trucks, The difference between the one on the left (OBA) is that it had to be used with the OBA-6059 Aluminum timing cover, which has the lower support. This cover came out in late 1950 was was available on all Ford and Mercury cars and trucks.

There is a good explanation of these distributors and the covers on the Ford Barn Flathead timing covers??? - The Ford Barn post #6

 

Ross, they are NOT identical inside! The cast dist. advance pate has large holes for the spring posts, the al. one has slots.

Yeah, over the years I have collected several of these distributors, and they all used the same internals.

Harley brings up a good point about the timing cover. When I last rebuilt Gertie in 1990, I decided to swap out the aluminum dist. for a cast one I had. Found out I needed to change the timing gear cover as well. Not a problem, as I had a cast iron one as well.