Now Whut????????

FrankenJeep · Post by **FrankenJeep** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 6:57 pm

I bought from a member what I thought was an M38 distributor. It turns out that it is apparently one for an M151(?) as it is identical in every way in outward appearance.......but the shaft is too short to mesh with the oil pump. The "innards" appear to be electronic as there are no "points", but a "module". Can this one be made to work? We are attempting to adapt the shaft from the civvy engine's distributor to that of the 24V one by changing the bearing/bushing located at the bottom of the distributor body. The old 12V distributor has a convex (half-round) bushing that "rides" on a concave "bolster" inside the hole for the shaft about 1/2 way down inside the hole. The 24V (AutoLite) distributor has a "flat" bushing rather than round. This seems to be what's stopping the shaft from "reaching" the oil pump. It only lacks a smidgen to reach. Any ideas for making the 24V distributor fit?

FJ

Post by **wesk** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 9:11 pm

The M151 distributor housing is the same as the M38 and M38A1. As you have seen the shaft is much shorter. Also the shaft rotates opposite the M38/M38A1 shaft. Yes the electronics can be adapted to the M38/M38A1 distributor. I believe you are wasting your time with the civvy shaft. Just buy a M38/M38A1 shaft and follow Erik Maes' conversion using the M151 electronics.
http://www.g503.com/forums/viewtopic.ph ... f83d81c4c0

http://willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules.php? ... c+ignition

Maybe Erik can help us with the location of his instructions and illustrations which don't seem to be public anymore?

FrankenJeep · Post by **FrankenJeep** » Wed Apr 11, 2012 9:13 am

Wes, I appreciate it! That will be the next step. Something I didn't tell you was, I bought two distributors; one the complete unit with the electronics and another spare for parts. THIS one is, apparently, FOR the M38! Two people responded to my ad for a unit here, and I decide to purchase both of them. So my mechanic is taking the parts from the M-151 unit and putting that in the M38 "shell". Buying both distributors may have been a good lick!! I had a feeling in the back of my mind that those parts could come in handy! David (my friend at the garage) thinks this WILL work as the shaft from the M38 unit is longer and will "reach" whereas the newer one won't. The plus of the whole thing is, I will have a head start on an electronic ignition for "Willy"! If it doesn't work, then I can order from the link you provided. Many thanks for the help!

I am looking forward to finally having a reliable Jeep and not having to fear coming home on a rollback so often!

I was afraid to go anywhere off-road for fear it would quit. How would I retrieve the thing if it stalled out in the boonies?

Tnx again!

FRankenJeep

Post by **wesk** » Wed Apr 11, 2012 11:22 pm

I drove my M38A1 with bone stock electrics and ignition to work everyday (20 miles each way at 60 MPH) and hunting in the SD Black Hills and over in Wyoming for years in the 80's with nothing in there I couldn't fix on the trail. To clarify how I felt about modern electronics I always left my new 87 Toyota 4x4 home when hunting.

Don't forget to have your mechanic get with Erik Maes and get his dimensions for the cuts he made to the Swiss Products pointless ignition from the M151 distributor.

Don't overlook that little anti-rattle spring at the very bottom of the M38 shaft. They often pop off during removal and stay down at the oil pump and give you fits when you try to install the distributor and it won't drop in that last 1/4".