More Jeep fun.

[okiemark]

Ordered me a tune up kit to try to fix the rough running motor on my project. Got the kit promptly, opened it and the cap was way to big in diameter. KW showed two possibilities but both caps were over 3 inches in diameter. Mine is only 2 1/2 inches in diameter. The identifying tag was broken off. Sent them some pictures and was told which kit to order. It turns out to be for a 46-53 truck or wagon or a 48-51 Jeepster. Makes me wonder if my engine was the original or if they had just swapped out a distributor. Since mine was a 57 CJ-5 I doubt if they would have still had the old style distributors that late in the game. This distributor is so small around the condenser is on the outside but seems to be sound mechanically.

[5JeepsAz]

Sorry that's not good...

[bmorgil]

Take a pic of that distributor Mark, lets take a peak.

[LarrBeard]

. This distributor is so small around the condenser is on the outside but seems to be sound mechanically.

I do dimly remember a "little cap" - "big cap" issue with the truck back in the mid-60's when I started driving it, but I don't remember much beyond that. If the distributor was for a 46 - 53 truck, it would have been for either the L-134 or F-134 engines. I've never seen (or at least remember) a distributor for either the L or F engines that had an external condenser - but as we've learned "Never say .... ".

It does appear that the CJ's and trucks used a different distributor - just something else to keep an eye on as we swap pieces and parts around.

[okiemark]

Here is that distributor. Look at how the points adjust.

[gmwillys]

A wild stab in the dark, but it almost looks like a Crosley distributor. I'm going to have to fact check that one for certain.

[LarrBeard]

That is so cute - it looks like a distributor, only smaller.

Yeah, we know the other story ....

[bmorgil]

It looks to me like the correct distributor housing with a homemade breaker plate and the condenser mounted outside. The points are definitely "not from around here". Somebody made it work with what they had I think. I would try to find a distributor on the net and rebuild it. That one is just not right. Take some pictures of the sides.

[okiemark]

Well the guy at KW looked at it and said what kit I needed so I'll see what it is when it gets here.

[okiemark]

I had it apart and cleaned it up and everything looked right but I didn't know any better. There just isn't room in there for a condenser.

[okiemark]

Says it is an Autolite distributor.

[bmorgil]

Take a picture from the side Mark. It sure looks like the correct body except the cap notch is very big.

Here is what it should look like from the top on an Fhead with the vacuum advance diaphragm removed.

You should have a Prestolite IAY 4401 originally in a 57' F head. I am not sure what you have. The distributor body is unique to the Continental/Willys L and F 134. Any 134 distributor will fit in the block and index the pump. That is either some form of aftermarket distributor or a modified original for a 134. There are a few distributors used in L and F head motors but for the most part, the body's look the same. The distributor body should be just under 3" in diameter under the cap. Just looking at them the Autolite and Prestolite are hard to tell apart. I think the IAY designation were vacuum advance units but I am not sure. I went through a lot of information when I restored my distributor. It has parts from a few different distributors to make a good one. I do remember reading there are a LOT of distributor versions out there for the 134's. For the most part they will all work.

This is a good place for distributor parts http://www.willysdistributors.com/id2.html

[okiemark]

Here's what those points look like. The guy is pretty proud of them. https://www.ebay.com/i/291863436736?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-213727-13078-0&mkcid=2&itemid=291863436736&targetid=4581046486499628&device=c&mktype=&googleloc=&poi=&campaignid=403204662&mkgroupid=1239149819509085&rlsatarget=pla-4581046486499628&abcId=9300377&merchantid=51291&msclkid=895fe9987cd7151a1753b6ca96d57bbaWalck's has it for $16.95

[bmorgil]

Ahh it is a 1936 to 1938 Willys L134 Autolite IGS-4007 distributor, with a modified breaker plate and the condenser mounted outside. It also appears as if someone modified it further and installed the vacuum advance or "governor" as it is called in the service manual. That looks like what would have been on the original 1957 distributor but not on the one you have in there now. Some one created the "57" IAY-4401 out of a IGS-4007. Far out man! Here is a shot of a IGS-4007 correctly assembled. You have an old distributor there and way unique.

[bmorgil]

Amy added the old Auto-Lite catalog. A 1947 edition. Everything you wanted to know about old Auto-Lite parts and more! It is a very big file.

https://willysjeepforum.kaiserwillys.com/showthread.php?2605-Auto-lite-Service-Parts-Catalog