John,



The '58 distributor drawing shows the molded/lip gasket included in the Fel-Pro set. If all '58 V-8s used the same distributor (?) as suggested in the catalog, could it be that it was optional on the Y-block, but neccessary on the FE/MEL? Must be a reason Fel-Pro includes it. I think the flat cork, 223 six-type gasket that novices sometimes mistakenly install under the Y-block dist. may double for the early fuel bowl?

6 VOLTS/POS. GRD. NW INDIANA

The distributors you can pick up at the local parts store use o-rings.  I think they are Autolite - the triangular body ones.


Lawrenceville, GA

Daniel:

Never saw that listing before.  I stand corrected.  Never tore down an engine that had one though.  As to the FE distributors, I'll stick my neck out again and say that all of them I remember had a groove around the distributor base and used a molded neoprene lip type seal.  But maybe the earliest FEs used a gasket.

John

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

John,



Part # 12143 (gasket-distributor base) listed in the '49-'59 Ford Part & Accessory Text Catalog for the '52 223 six, and all '58 pass./T-bird engines, including the 292.



Is this a catalog error? Was it ever installed on FE/MEL motors ( as depicted on pages 377 & 378 of the illustrations catalog)?

6 VOLTS/POS. GRD. NW INDIANA

Daniel:

Ford never put a gasket under the distributor, probably why they are never in the gasket sets.

John

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

I had forgotten, but there WAS a set of thin gaskets with tabs in the Fel-Pro set (I sold all the extra/unneeded ones). I had assumed they were for the early truck motors, as every conceivable (many unidentifiable) Y-related gasket was included (does anyone EVER use the distributor gasket?).

6 VOLTS/POS. GRD. NW INDIANA

fellas - this confirms my original thoughts (per Ted's numbers) - the guy has a set he will give me for only $3.50, and they are new, less than 5 years old in the box. He wouldn't open them. I believe we have a deal!

Dan

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

If you get one of those air head parts guys, ask for 64 Ford truck (292)

54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

Later ones had 4 tabs that locked into notches in the valve cover.  I think they were thinner also.  The tabs can be cut of and used on early covers.

John

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

Didn't know there was a difference between early and late valve-cover gaskets. If so, why?

6 VOLTS/POS. GRD. NW INDIANA