I have a 40 pickup that was given to me by my grandfather. The engine runs great, it was a NOS short block that was installed about 20 years ago.

I am wondering about updating the distributor to a crab style instead of the drivers helmet to help keep it from getting wet.

Where can I get trans parts? It slips out of second gear so bad it's almost unuseable.

Is there a fix for the rear hub bearings? The rollers in the hubs look good but where they run on the axle tube is pretty worn and starting to pit.

Thanks for any help

 

Hi there, from memory the distributor drive on the front of the cam sticks out further on a divers helmet set up, the timing cover is different, divers helmet has 3 bolt mount, crab has 2 bolt mount.Whether you can buy adaptors I don't know, you could try the Ford Flathead V8 forum, Ford Flathead V8 .. 1932 thru 1953 • View forum - Q & A General Discussions
When I rebuilt the engine in my '42 truck it had a crab distributor, but for ease of accessibility I changed to an 8BA timing cover, cam, timing gears, water pumps and modified SBC dist.
As for transmission parts, Sacramento Vintage Ford, Dennis Carpenter etc. Maybe a machine shop could metal spray your worn axle housing.
Good luck, Steve.

 

Thanks much! I'll check those out.