1914 Buick B-37M Touring Sedan ignition info

[Guest dustbowl]

I would like to repair or replicate the distributor casting but would like to ensure I can get it timed correctly when I put it back together.  

Any info on how to do this would be nice.  Shop manual, article, clay tablet. 

 

Howard

 

 

[Larry Schramm]

Howard, 

 

What are you trying to do?  Are you going to make a new distributor housing?  

 

If so, after you get the housing installed in the car, put the engine at top dead center.  The timing mark on the flywheel should align at the top of the bell housing if it is the same as on my truck. 

 

Then move the rotor to the location of the #1 sparkplug.  Pretty simple.  Where are you located?

Edited September 12, 2017 by Larry Schramm (see edit history)

[Guest dustbowl]

Larry thank you for replying.

 

The car belongs to the Cimarron Heritage Center in Boise City Oklahoma.

I will get a picture of the distributor tomorrow so we can be sure we are talking about the same distributor setup.

 

Yes I would like to try my hand at casting an aluminum copy.

 

Howard

 

[Guest dustbowl]

Images to ensure we are talking about the same setup.

 

Howard

 

[Terry Wiegand]

Howard, it would be a whole lot better to get your request for help into the Pre-War Buick section.  There are guys on there from all over the world who can and will help you.  Going by your original posting, you mentioned the model as a 1914 model 37M.  The photos that you posted are from a much later 6-cylinder engine.  A 30-series model in 1914 would be a 4-cylinder engine.  I am trying to help you by getting you to the right area on the forums.

 

Terry Wiegand

South Hutchinson, Kansas

[Guest dustbowl]

Than you Terry I will start a new thread there.  

[Larry Schramm]

Ask the moderator to move this thread.

[old buicks]

Howard,   I have a six cylinder Buick distributor like the one in your pictures only mine is in good shape.   Send me an email and we can discuss   tsvanmeet@gmail.com   or call me   402-359-5762.

 

Tom

[Guest dustbowl]

Moderator please move this thread to the pre war Buick section.

 

When I look at that distributor I see 5 ignition wires not 7.  

[Larry Schramm]

7 hours ago, dustbowl said:

When I look at that distributor I see 5 ignition wires not 7.  

 

There are some hidden.  The first picture shows 5 spark plug wires plus the coil wire, at least that is what I see.

[old buicks]

I see 6 plug wires plus a spark intensifier.

[Larry Schramm]

IMO, this is a 6 cylinder engine from probably 1920+.  That is based on the picture of the starter generator, the side covers on the engine, and I do not remember any 6 cylinder engines on a 1914 car.

 

Howard, can post some pictures of the total car and more of the engine.  Something is not right in your post on the  year/make.

 

Here is a picture of a 1923 6 cylinder engine.  Look familiar?  PS: I am selling a parts car that this is attached to.

 

 

Edited September 19, 2017 by Larry Schramm (see edit history)

[nickelroadster]

It appears to me that this uses a starter-generator that the distributor housing is part of the unit.  You will need a whole new housing for this whole setup.  I don't think a separate distributor will work here.

[JV Puleo]

The whole distributor has to turn in order to advance and retard the spark so it has to be removable. I had a 6-cylinder Buick (about 1918) many years ago and, if I remember correctly, the distributor just lifted out. Now... to fix your problem, I would be inclined to measure the diameter of the distributor housing where it goes into the starter/generator unit. I would then look for a modern 4-cylinder distributor with the same diameter or ... close enough so that you can either have the hole bushed or the diameter turned down to fit the housing. You will almost certainly have to fit the gear on the bottom of your distributor shaft to the new distributor. I've done this sort of thing several times... it isn't the sort of thing most mechanics will attempt but it is doable and a lot less work than making an entire new distributor housing and machining it. You also will get the option of using an easily replaced distributor cap. I once used a Volkswagen distributor in a Northeast Electric Generator/Distributor unit on a 1915 REO.

[Larry Schramm]

On the Buick's in the day, to change the timing you would remove the distributor cap, remove the rotor, and in the center of the distributor shaft there was a screw that you could loosen and then put the rotor on back on the shaft and move the rotor to your desired setting.  Then re-remove the rotor, tighten the screw, replace the rotor, replace the distributor cap and try out the engine.

[nickelroadster]

I totally agree with Larry.  It might be possible to replace the distributor but it would take some fancy machining to get something to fit.  the distributor itself does not move and is part of  the starter-generator.