I am doing a engine for 1913 styled speedster based on a Canadian right hand drive chassis for a customer. He is planing of using a Texas T distributor, which I have in hand. Help! Has anyone set one up on their right hand drive T? Need to start getting some ideas before I get to the point of mounting it.
Mark, I do not have an operating RHD, but the basic engine is the same. Yes, the spark and throttle are different and the foot pedals are on the wrong side for us in the USA. (also hand brake is relocated)
I would think the distributor would be mounted exactly as you would on a LHD car. RHD does not effect the firing order.
Call Ben at Texas T parts.
The only part I would think would be different and/or perhaps complicated would be the spark advance linkage. Even that should just be a matter of making a new spark rod that is a different length and bend.
Scroll down to see several pictures of a RHD T's with distributors. http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/257047/295053.html?1339922499
One thing I didn't realize until looking at these pictures - on a RHD car the spark and throttle levers are swapped?!? That's craziness. I already have to work to really get my brain right for driving my T, but goodness, driving a RHD T would make me dizzy.
Use an E-Timer instead. That should simplify the linkage and you'd have the same reliability of the distributor.
True, both the distributor and the E timer are less reliable than the original Ford ignition system. Both depend upon a battery and a charging system. Without a source of 12 volts a distributor or E timer (either one) is useless.
That being said, It is pretty silly to market your E Timer on this thread. The guy has already bought a distributor. That is what he is going to use, and I don't expect to try and convince him otherwise.
Please try and contain the constant barrage of marketing Mike.
The above is Mike Robison, not Mike Kosser.
Thanks for the link. I am working on getting him to go with coils. Part of the problem will be that the Texas T distributor is so much taller then your standard Bosch from the era. As it's the customers car and engine I will do as he asks.
Dave,
I didn't mean my comments to address anyone other than Mike. Sorry if that caused confusion for you!
On some accessory distributors mounted on our RHD cars, the push/pull on the steering column and the arm on the distributor, has to be reversed.
A common way to do this sees a piece fixed to the front manifold clamp and mounted to this is a pivoted arm. This converts pull on the steering column to push at the distributor, so the distributor is rotated in the correct manner for advance and retard.
Hope this helps,
Allan from down under.
Royce, I have no special interest in E-timers vs Distributor. His problem is that he is having linkage issues using a non stock setup for a unique situation. The e-timer in this case would allow him to simplify his linkage and have the same if not be more aesthetically correct, it also would have the ease of operation like a dizzy has.
With that being said I'd like you to apologize for giving me a hard time when I was only giving another approach to solving Mark's issue.
Royce, I had a nice 1/2 hour drive into work this morning in my Model T. It gave me to reflect on what I wrote earlier and I need to retract what I said, "With that being said I'd like you to apologize for giving me a hard time" I've decided that I don't care so much anymore. Your opinion is your opinion right or wrong.