Topic: Ford distributor restoration

[ExportMach]

Ive been searching for someone to rebuild/restore my 351C distributor and come up short. Im probably going to end up doing it myself. I have found that mansfieldmustang@aol.com does offer rebuilding/restoration for FE distributors only.

[krelboyne]

Have used a guy in SoCal a couple of times. Call about how he does his cosmetic restoration, very good on rebuilds. In the 1990's he did my 428CJ distributor, very happy with the results. I think that he did a chemical clean on the housing. He is in Anaheim, and works out of his garage / shop. Also did my 1968 302-4V distributor.

[carlite65]

you might also try dan nolan at mustangbarn.com.

[ExportMach]

you might also try dan nolan at mustangbarn.com.

This is who I sent my distributor to for restoring, thanks for the suggestion.

[ExportMach]

I got my distributor back from Dan @ Mustang Barn and I have to say I am very pleased with the entire experience. My housing had a problem with one of the bearing surfaces being oversized. He had a suggestion and we went with it. Also returned all the spare pieces. Well packed and completed in two weeks. Highly recommended.

[carlite65]

great! glad to hear such positive results. now to see how well it performs.

[J_Speegle]

I got my distributor back from Dan @ Mustang Barn and I have to say I am very pleased with the entire experience. My housing had a problem with one of the bearing surfaces being oversized. He had a suggestion and we went with it. Also returned all the spare pieces. Well packed and completed in two weeks. Highly recommended.

Thanks for sharing pictures and your experiences. Guess he does not replate or restore the advance units or plate parts during the process.. Sorry just a couple fo things that stand out. Each owner should and can determine what their needs are and choose accordingly

Related discussion

http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=13109.msg80262#msg80262

[ExportMach]

Thanks for sharing pictures and your experiences. Guess he does not replate or restore the advance units or plate parts during the process.. Sorry just a couple fo things that stand out. Each owner should and can determine what their needs are and choose accordingly

Related discussion

As always I appreciate your input, Jeff. My goal for my modest base model Mach 1 is to meet the MCA concours driven rules as close as reasonable possible. In this case the MCA rules do not specify finishes and I am trying to not over restore it (i.e. much higher cost). Additionally, I wanted to share a recommended source for distributor rebuild/restoring since Tim is not in business. Dan also re-curves distributors.

[Bob Gaines]

As always I appreciate your input, Jeff. My goal for my modest base model Mach 1 is to meet the MCA concours driven rules as close as reasonable possible. In this case the MCA rules do not specify finishes and I am trying to not over restore it (i.e. much higher cost). Additionally, I wanted to share a recommended source for distributor rebuild/restoring since Tim is not in business. Dan also re-curves distributors.

How much did he charge and what exactly did he do for the charge?

[J_Speegle]

As always I appreciate your input, Jeff. My goal for my modest base model Mach 1 is to meet the MCA concours driven rules as close as reasonable possible. In this case the MCA rules do not specify finishes and I am trying to not over restore it (i.e. much higher cost)................

No problem and there are many levels of needs in the hobby. As a side note realize that not everything that judges will check for is listed in the rules and that is often the subject of questions and discussions - filling in those voids to help and prepare owners/builders before hand. Only basic, general or specific items where they has been issues is typically include due to limited space. Rest of that discussion is better left and has been discussed in the Judging sections of this and club sites.

[ExportMach]

How much did he charge and what exactly did he do for the charge?

The base quote for restoration is $300 + shipping. This included a recurve to my specs. My distributor was disassembled, I sent him most of the pieces. I had the housing cleaned prior to sending it but that isnt necessary. Im not sure if Nolan offers replating, we didnt discuss. He also did a vacuum test on the diaphram and found it to be sound.

[BlackMcode1970mach1]

Anybody in here talk to tim  oconnor who used to do restoration on distributors  as of late?  Mark

[JohnSlack]

I have been doing repairs and rework, curve on SBF and 351C/429 distributors as well for several years.


John