I am getting ready to reinstall the distributor in my 1946 212. There was no gasket on the distributor when I removed it but I ordered one to put in when I reinstalled it. Where does the gasket go? Between the distributor and the block? Under the hold down bracket? Also the cork gasket that I received is rather odd shaped, it has the hole for the distributor shaft to go through but then has like a long tab off of it with a smaller hole in it. I have looked through all of the manuals and find nothing (doesn't mean it isn't there just means I couldn't find it :unsure: ) It seems like a simple thing but I guess I just don't see it. Lastly, what is water pump grease? Thanks to all of your help.
Les
The gasket sits between the engine block and the underside of the steel mounting plate that clamps to the body of the distributor.
See below. The mounting plate is just above the hand, and has an extension or tab, with a hole in it for the bolt that holds the plate (and thus the distributor) to the engine block. The tab in your gasket corresponds to that tab that is part of the plate.
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Thank you Jon
Mine is configured a little differently. It has a large plate that mounts to 2 head bolts, then there is a "C"clip that fits into a groove on the distributor shaft then screws to the bottom of the plate. I am assuming then that all I really need is the round portion of the gasket in my application.
Thank you again for straightening me out on this. I could not for the life of me find anything that hole in the tab lined up to.
I see, the later distributor (yours) has an L-shaped bracket that holds the vacuum advance, unlike the earlier ones (like mine) which have no advance. So I can't really speak with authority. However, in checking one of our Hudson parts vendors, I see that the same gasket fits from 1937 to 47. The '37 doesn't have the vacuum advance like yours, yet it has the odd shaped cork gasket. And since this same gasket is being shipped with the 1937-47 gasket kit, I am let to assume that it will work in your car as well. Possibly the offset tab portion can simply be cut off or left to flap in the breeze!
Here is an illustration of a '37-47 gasket kit. Number 2298 is the gasket of which you speak.
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Les,
The late splasher sixes ('40+) have the distributor mounted up high at the rear of the block, like yours, and don't use a gasket as there is little concern of oil at that point. The early ones have the distributor mounted down on the side of the block where sealing is necessary (like the one in Jon's photo and all eights of that design). I assume that the gasket set you have included gaskets for the early and later engines, hence the mystery gasket.
Frank
Thank you Frank, that makes perfect sense. I own a '37 six (with the distributor mounted low) so am not acquainted with the later distributors mounted at the top of the engine. But of course, the splashing of oil would not be a concern with the later sixes.
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