Help with Ignition System

[ajmac]

I am getting towards the end of my 221ci Flathead V8 engine rebuild and have a question about HT lead conduits. Could anyone be kind enough to post any images from wartime manuals?
I have a set of British conduits which due to the odd placement of holes I think is for the Lucas Distributor. The ones test fitted in the photo below came from a post 1942 engine with the Crab Distributor as fitted to mine. What I am trying to get to the bottom of is why there are only two holes in the conduit for three plugs (fourth comes out of the end - British conduit has three holes) and what the holes on the inside are for?





One hole may be for the lead from the coil down to the Distributor.... which brings me on to the location of the coil, I have a special bracket for mounting the bakalite 'Ford' coil above the front of the LH head, whas this ever used in war spec engines? Does anyone have details for the normal layout of the HT system on these 1942-45 USA manufactured engines? I am hoping for parts book images

[Richard Farrant]

Hi,
The conduit with only two holes is for a British engine which has an ignition filter unit bolted to the two cylinder head studs adjacent to where you expect the hole to be, the coil would be along side it. The HT lead for that front cylinder does not appear to come up the tube. cannot post a pic of this at present, but it is Fig 53 in Chilwell manual 63/63 for Universal Carriers.

regards, Richard

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by ajmac

- British conduit has three holes

The conduit with 3 holes will be for engines without wireless / radio filter mounted on the left head. Normal trucks and cars would use the 3 hole conduit as not fitted with wireless equipment.

[hrpearce]

I hope these pictures help. If they are not clear enough send your E Mail in a PM and I will send you full size images.

[Richard Farrant]

Here are two photos from manuals, the drawing shows the HT leads on a Canadian Mk1, the photo is the British Carrier, with Lucas coil and Ign Filter unit, blocking where the hole in the tube would be and HT lead for No.5 coming straight up from the dizzy.

[Lynn Eades]

Alistair, I haven't been through this yet, either. So this is a guess
The British dizzy allows for the leads to cross at the cap.
The crab dizzy doesn't, and so leads 3 and 5 must cross over on top of the motor.
There are different conduits for the different dizzys, and each has its left and right. So no 5 lead comes from the other side tube (on the inside)etc. See Robert's first picture.
I assume you intend to remove your pumps to press the pulleys on?

[ajmac]

Thanks to all.
The manual shots with the Crab distributor give all the detail that I require! I never thought to compare the crab distributor HT connections with the firing order. Now I know the RF interference reduction capacitor unit is for the original Ford coil on distributor (divers helmet) arrangement and if I want to fit a UK spec canister coil I need the other radio filter type. Can anyone help me out with that?
I do have the Ford coil mount for use with the Bakelite coil as shown the the crab distributor Manual image earlier in this thread. Was this ever used during wartime? Loyd TTs didn't have radios so unless it was a statutory requirement for any kind of tracked carrier perhaps they didn't require HT noise filters.....however the only wartime loyd engine phot that I have does show one fitted on an engine with the coil on distributor setup.

Ps. The water pumps are fitted without gaskets just to mask the mating faces during the paint spray. They are already on the bench to have the pulleys pressed on.