4 cyl M-series waterproof distributor caps (M38, M38A1, M151, L-head, F-head, etc.)

[clinto]

So everyone knows the repro 24V coils for the waterproof distributors suck. Very bad reputation. To the point that people are starting to look for good originals when theirs dies.

Apparently the distributor caps are the same way. I have a customer's M38 right now and he has 2 new Newstar (who makes all the repros and that's what everyone is selling) and both are no good. One has an intermittent failure on the #2 cylinder (I've never seem anything like it, all 4 posts test the same resistance, 1.8 ohms, but it won't fire #2. I borrowed another customer's M38A1 distributor with an original cap and it works perfect).

So what are ya'll doing for caps? Buying Newstars until you get one that works?

Is there anyone (vendors, etc.) that have some NOS caps for sale? NOS meaning vintage ones?


I've totally rebuilt this distributor, converted it away from points to a Pertronix unit, etc., etc and I hate to send this customer down the road with a Newstar cap that may strand him at any moment.

Thanks

 

[NDT]

Yes the caps suck as well. The high voltage jumps through porosity or cracks in the cap rather than firing the plug. I rely on my dwindling supply of NOS parts. Very frustrating.

 

[clinto]

I bought one from George Bazter @ Army Jeep Parts. Supposedly they test fit them before shipping and mine did have a date hand written on it from a few months ago that said they'd tested it.

I asked them if they tested them for functionality or fit and I don't think the person I was talking to grasped what I was asking but I ordered one and it did work.

Hope for the best.

 

[Maverick1701]

I've totally rebuilt this distributor, converted it away from points to a Pertronix unit, etc., etc and I hate to send this customer down the road with a Newstar cap that may strand him at any moment.

Thanks

How do you like the performance of the pertronix unit? I've been seriously considering moving over from points.

 

[clinto]

How do you like the performance of the pertronix unit? I've been seriously considering moving over from points.

So much so that I do it to pretty well all of my personal stuff and my client's stuff (assuming it's not a 100 point trailer queen that's being judged for correctness). I am not even sure how many I've done at this point, but it has to be 40+ and I've not had a single issue or failure.

It's a very simple system - a Hall effect magnetic pickup and a reluctor that slides over the rubbing block that opens the points. When it rotates, pickup senses the difference in resistance and fires. So no parts that touch and can wear out and no points arcing or burning up.

I'm not sure I've ever seen a fuel mileage increase in any car I've installed one in, but they are super low maintenance.

I just bought a '65 Mustang and have already bought a Pertronix kit for it and I'm finishing a halftrack right now I did a conversion on.





Halftrack

This distributor was shot, so it got everything: new (NOS) shaft, bushings, sandblasted, paint, NOS data plate, etc.