MTFCA Forum

I recently acquired a 1926 touring that was part of an estate and know no history of the car. It's not a bad car, but it is equipped with a distributor that I am not familiar with. It appears like the Clip On Distributor shown in Lang's catalog but the distributor body has VW stamped in it as well as a part number. The housing attaching with 1 bolt to the timer area has no identification and the control rod is 2 piece with a bell crank. At some time was there produced an adapter which enabled the use of a Volkswagen distributor? I might be abel to find out what distributor this is by searching the number on the body, but I figured I'd ask the forum first. By the way the ignition coil is very large & rounded on the bottom. Any comments or input appreciated. Thank you, Peter

Sounds like a Bill Rader distributor from the 60's & 70's - can you post a photo ?

I'm not tech savvy enough to post pics but I'll try to get my grandson's help over the weekend and do so asap
Thanks, Peter

Welcome to the hobby and welcome to the Forum, Peter

2727 wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 08, 2022 3:36 pm

I recently acquired a 1926 touring that was part of an estate and know no history of the car. It's not a bad car, but it is equipped with a distributor that I am not familiar with. It appears like the Clip On Distributor shown in Lang's catalog but the distributor body has VW stamped in it as well as a part number. The housing attaching with 1 bolt to the timer area has no identification and the control rod is 2 piece with a bell crank. At some time was there produced an adapter which enabled the use of a Volkswagen distributor? I might be abel to find out what distributor this is by searching the number on the body, but I figured I'd ask the forum first. By the way the ignition coil is very large & rounded on the bottom. Any comments or input appreciated. Thank you, Peter

The VW Bosch 09 distributor was used on the Model T. You can think of Lang's a knock-off, same parts if its an 09. Lang's notes that the centrifugal advance is applicable for Model T so spark lever needs to be used. Here is a link to the Installation Instructions for the current one
https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/cont ... 3161-T.pdf

Frank - the instructions you posted are for a single spark arm distributor - Peter's has a bell crank and twin arms - early Rader set-up.

I have the original Ralph Reeder (Texas T Performance Parts) instructions, will post tomorrow.

Hank

Thanks Hank - Bill Rader in California also did the same set-up.

RajoRacer wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 08, 2022 8:29 pm

Frank - the instructions you posted are for a single spark arm distributor - Peter's has a bell crank and twin arms - early Rader set-up.

I assumed that the rest of the instructions might apply. Best picture I could find for the Reader Distributor.
--
I'm throwing this out for further discussion
So some verification needs to be made of the parts for the current supplier has cap, rotor, condenser, points and gear set are the same as their VW01 and a VW 009.
Also note statement from Langs
"The distributors heads that they use are vary similar to the Volkswagen heads out of the mid 60's. The advance curves for the Volkswagen's do not work for the Model T's though because the model T likes to run at a much lower RPM so they either have taken the whole mechanism out or have locked it in place so it doesn't move. But the distributor will still be connected to the manual advance just like the original timing would to get the correct adjustment." They also sell a VW009 upgrade kit - so is this different (been modified) than a a VW009 that NAPA sells.

Frank,
That looks like the distributer I have and was told that it was a Reeder Dist.
Craig.

They were originally made by Bill Rader AKA Vintage Authentic Reproductions in Lynwood, California. Bill Rader was one of the large Model T parts distributors on the west coast. Him and his wife were great people and he provided quite a service to the Model T hobby when no one else in this area was doing it. I believe after Rader closed his business, Reeder took over the manufacturing of this distributor. I have used several of these Rader-style distributors. Great units that are easy to work on and get parts for as they use off the shelf VW components.

Bill Rader turned a portion of the Model T parts business over to his S.I.L. Rudy Sarella who married Bill's daughter - my wife & I bought the parts business from Rudy & Phylis back in the 90's I think ?

Thank you to everyone for the information,
Your posted pictures do look very much like the distributor in my car. All the input has been most helpful. Any suggestions for the best replacement points & condenser?
Thank you, Peter

I believe I have the original parts number tags for NAPA - be later today - headed to a Model T Club meeting.

These are "old" NAPA #'s- cap is EP 145SB, rotor is EP 146SB, points are CS 307SB & condenser is EP 148SB - hope this helps !

When I need VW distributor parts, I go to Napa and ask for 1967 parts. There are 2 different configurations for points so I’d take yours with you to get the proper configuration!

The suggestion to take the old parts for match up was a good one! Matching parts have been ordered (not in stock, believe it or not). When they arrive and are installed, I'll post update. Thanks for all the help!
Peter

Great news! Thanks to all contributors, points, condenser, cap & wires this car runs. As you can tell from the month delay, this has not been a priority.
Now that the engine is running (it sounds strong too), I'll move on to another step of trying to get this car back on the road. Thanks for everyone's help.
Peter

Peter,

Could you please post the new numbers OR confirm the new ones are the same numbers as the old ones? I'm sure it would help some of us when we need parts.

Thank You

Hello everyone,
I used all NAPA Echlin line parts. Points CS313, Condenser EP259, Cap EP274. Points & condenser box says made in Mexico and are identical in appearance. Cap says made in Germany, fits well but contacts are made of material different from the old cap, hopefully better as the pickups on the old cap had a lot of build up from arcing.
Peter