Ferret Distributor

[Wayne Henderson]

Greetings, I need help and a rotor button for this dizzy. Currently fitted to a friends Ferret so B60. I have done B40, B60 and B80 motors before but first time with this type of distributor. Only seen the type with 3 lugs attaching the cap to the base?

I know the plugs and leads are wrong but I'm fixing that.
Wayne

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Dissy FV141540 ?
How much of it do you need besides the rotor?
I have a complete unit in unknown used condition.
Pics tomorrow if required.
Rich.

[Wayne Henderson]

Hi Richard, just after the rotor as the standard ones I have don't fit this style of distributor, I can swap out a complete dizzy and leads but would
rather not.

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Wayne Henderson

Greetings, I need help and a rotor button for this dizzy. Currently fitted to a friends Ferret so B60. I have done B40, B60 and B80 motors before but first time with this type of distributor. Only seen the type with 3 lugs attaching the cap to the base?

I know the plugs and leads are wrong but I'm fixing that.
Wayne

Hi Wayne,
That looks like a Delco-Remy distributor, they were fitted to early B Range engines and not often seen now.
Try Richard Banister in the UK, his email is wjrbanister@btconnect.com

regards, Richard

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Ok, PM me an address and I will put it in the post if it looks OK.
Rich.

[Ed Landstrom]

The Ferret Club (Oshawa Museum, Ontario Regiment) has published instructions for fitting a Chevy distributor to a Ferret engine. That was what I did when I discovered that a rotor was going to cost $200 and take a month to arrive from England. I had the necessary distributor in my scrap box and it only took a few hours. They're as common as dirt here. Maybe over there they're called Holden. It works fine, as long as you don't insist on originality. I should have the instructions somewhere, but you can probably find them faster on line than I can in my files.

[fv1620]

Originally Posted by Richard Farrant

That looks like a Delco-Remy distributor, they were fitted to early B Range engines and not often seen now.

I remember 40 years I knew someone who ran with one of these. One set of points were easily obtainable, but the mirror image set were unobtainable back then even.

[Len Savage]

Hello,

I am new here.

I also have a Ferret (Mk 2/4).

Ed Landstrom's post brought me here as I have been trying to work out swap on the distributor in my Ferret.

I contacted The Ferret Club (Oshawa Museum, Ontario Regiment) to see where I could find published instructions for fitting a Chevy distributor to a Ferret engine.

They can not find the document at all, but do recall one member doing it years ago...

I could really use the help from Ed or anyone with any info or photos on the swap.

Respectfully

Len Savage

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Len Savage

Hello,

I am new here.

I also have a Ferret (Mk 2/4).

Ed Landstrom's post brought me here as I have been trying to work out swap on the distributor in my Ferret.

I contacted The Ferret Club (Oshawa Museum, Ontario Regiment) to see where I could find published instructions for fitting a Chevy distributor to a Ferret engine.

They can not find the document at all, but do recall one member doing it years ago...

I could really use the help from Ed or anyone with any info or photos on the swap.

Respectfully

Len Savage

Hi Len,
The correct B60 distributors are still found new in the UK, why mess with an incorrect one, the auto advance may not be correct for the engine. Try Richard Banister in the UK.

[Len Savage]

Richard,

I could not get Bannister nor any of the UK sources to ship even a cap and rotor to the US.

Seems that the cap and rotor are either not worth the paperwork or some restriction encountered. I was told huge red tape involved. It's a US thing from what I read in an email from them.

Same thing on Ebay. (Caps and rotors have come up for bid in the UK, won't ship to the US).

My distributor is functional, though no spare points, and my cap and rotor are in need of replacement.

This is why I started looking for an easy to locate distributor swap. I know that when I installed modern wires and spark plugs it was huge improvement in spark and was less likely to foul.

"For want of a nail".

I really enjoy driving the Ferret and I want to keep it on the road. I did modernize the exhaust and put a real flex joint in and it was another huge improvement and I don't have to breath exhaust any longer.

I really do appreciate your response, thank you for trying to help me out.

Len

[Richard Farrant]

Hi Len,
Have you heard of a business in Texas called REME Depot www.remedepot.com ? They have a lot of dealings with Ferrets and may be able to help.

[Ed Landstrom]

It will be a week or so before I'm home and have a chance to look for the instructions. If I can find them, I'll forward them then.

[Len Savage]

Thank you Richard and Ed!

I had never heard of remedepot nor had they come up on any google search for Ferret parts.

Spoke with the owner on the phone and really seems like he enjoys what he does. His filter adapters were also ordered.

They service Carburetors as well! I will no doubt need there services again.

Ed,

Those instructions are worthy of republishing and saving for future owners. I thank you for the effort. I still plan on doing the conversion as parts are going to get harder and harder to find as time goes by.

Thank you both for your kind help!

[Robin Craig]

Len,

Glad to hear you made some progress

Welcome to Ferret ownership

[Len Savage]

Robin,

Thank you. I think owning one was just a matter of time.

I have been building semiautomatic BREN guns for 20 years [Legally, I have a license to build them].

Having built them for other Ferret owners so they could have a live gun (closed bolt and semiauto only of course)....I got the insatiable urge to get one.

[Ed Landstrom]

I found the instructions. They were published in Army Motors, issue 53, page 39. (1990). The gentleman who devised the conversion was Barry Huron and the article was submitted by Dave Mountenay. I'm not sure if the back issues are archived on line, but if you can't find it, I'll try to scan my copy and post it.

I recall that I had to modify the instructions slightly, but I don't remember exactly what I had to change. That's not too surprising, because these distributors were used on a wide variety of engines and the one I used probably wasn't exactly the same year and model as the one Mr. Huron used.

[David Cussins]

Just dug out the issue of army motors....yes its there...i know its not original parts...but it looks like a cool project...and if it can get you through....power to you....if i can find a 63 to 73 chevy 6 cyl dist. I will give it a bash...as a spare....never hurts to try...

[Len Savage]

I do not have the book.

If possible I think would be great to see the scans and I would bet the Ontario museum may be interested?

Skip shipped my rotor and cap and I am waiting for it to get here. Super nice guy!

[Ed Landstrom]

I managed to scan it. Now to see if it will attach.

[David Cussins]

Thanks Ed for posting the mod....i had it but no scanner...im so happy its out there to help some ferret owners...very nice...

[Len Savage]

Ed,

Thank you for sharing that. Extremely helpful.

At some point I will do the Chevy distributor install.

Len Savage

[Robin Craig]

Len if you need help getting original parts which are freely available I will help you but email through this forum please. the upgrade I would suggest which dramatically changes the performance is the Jolley engineering electronic ignition kit which is invisible and designed for the OEM kit. My 2 cents worth.

[David Cussins]

Hello Robin...thanks for the info on the Jolley engineering electronic ingnition upgrade....that sounds very interesting.....have you done one? Would be very interested in that modification....whats involved...ect...

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

The Jolley electronic kit gets my vote. I have fitted it to both the Champ (B40) and Humber (B60) with noticeable improvement in starting and performance, but the biggest advantage is no more points. Hardest part of the installation is hiding the extra wire.
Rich.

[David Cussins]

Hello Rich....thank you for the information..sounds like the way to go...another modification ive seen on ferrets is an electric fuel pump...anyone who has worked on ferrets knows the fuel pump is a fun job.....carb also....best to you all...keep em running!!!!

[Robin Craig]

I wholly agree with Rich. It is possible to hide the extra wire, you just have to think.

Completely invisible, best money you can spend. David I will ave to look up some photos, if i have them. I was like 12 years ago.

The instructions are simple and clear. It would require talent to foul it up.

[Robin Craig]

The electric fuel pump is another modification that really is not needed as the original fuel pump is very capable and people forget just how long most of those pumps have been in those vehicles for. My opinion.

Pulling the pack out is daunting if you have never done it but once you have its a whole different kettle of fish. We did fuel pump and fluid flywheel seal while the pack was out, flushed and pressure tested the rad, put new hoses on and put it back in. Now with a remote fuel source it is a reliable vehicle. Oh and we also have done the spin on oil filter adapter change up, again quite invisible if you paint the new filter. Just have the spin on fuel filter adapter to do on that Ferret which belongs to work.

[David Cussins]

Hi Robin...yes i have done two power pack pulls on ferrets...just a bit of labor....ive never had a fuel pump problem....but have seen the up grade on about 4 of them...