Club Cobra - Distributor cap question

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Distributor cap question

OK, this is a bit of a silly question and will probably get some eye rolls, but I'm still curious so will ask anyway.

I just did a tune up on my FE and in replacing the distributor cap, had a choice of two that are generally original looking in appearance:

1) No name brand that seems to be of decent quality and has brass contacts ($15).
https://www.mustangsunlimited.com/it...p?T1=512106+01

2) Motorcraft brand name distributor cap, but has aluminum contacts. ($22)
Motorcraft DH6 - Motorcraft Distributor Caps - Overview - SummitRacing.com

Which is better?

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcdoug (Post 1209565)

Which is better?

Trick question.... :cool: Aluminum will conduct better than brass, but, it has a nasty habit of developing a white, powdery oxide on the outside which hampers conductivity and erodes the metal, but, dielectric grease will greatly diminish this, but, that won't help if your rotor tip is copper. And since you asked, ever wonder why underground conductors fail catastrophically? Because the conductor is aluminum, some with a steel core for strength, and a protective insulator around it all. When they are placed in the ground they're surrounded by a nice safe, soft protective bed of "rock dust." But then, the evil water and sewer guys come on to the site and backhoe up the ground, lay their pipes, and then back fill crap on to the conductors (instead of carefully replacing the rock dust). The insulation gets nicked, just a bit, and then over time the moisture turns the aluminum conductor in to white, powdery aluminum oxide and then *poof* the conductor fails -- but this takes time, and now the water/sewer guys are long gone. And then everyone stands around looking at the faulty conductor, which faulted directly under the water/sewer line, and say "ahhh, the water/sewer guys strike again.":mad:

I would go for the known tested brand. motorcraft. Thousands of volts will conduct through copper as well as ali.
JD

Niether, go with a blue streak (standard ignition) brass contact cap/rotor. I've got one on my MSD pro billet and it's 6 years old and never misses a beat!

Quote:

Originally Posted by undy (Post 1209827)

Niether, go with a blue streak (standard ignition) brass contact cap/rotor. I've got one on my MSD pro billet and it's 6 years old and never misses a beat!

ok, stop the presses!!!!!!

Undy, what contacts does it have? male or female for the wires?
i know the MSD cap is a GM type cap but.......

Quote:

Originally Posted by FWB (Post 1209845)

ok, stop the presses!!!!!!

Undy, what contacts does it have? male or female for the wires?
i know the MSD cap is a GM type cap but.......

OK, if you're going in that direction... then go the distance.;) Click here: http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/all-...butor-cap.html

No no.....i just want some one elses cap thats non-msd....thats why i'm in the thread.

paint or fingernail polish on the MSD cap doesn't help the center electrode at all.

thanks though, i did see that post when you posted it a few months ago.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FWB (Post 1209845)

ok, stop the presses!!!!!!

Undy, what contacts does it have? male or female for the wires?
i know the MSD cap is a GM type cap but.......

Gotta confess... It's running a Chebby style cap (female contacts). With custom wires it's really no biggie (to me). The cap choices are more plentiful that way. Plus, the caps last forever too!

yes key phrase is "caps last forever"....i need to do wires and a custom wire will be needed

A tan colored cap was original on the 427 s/o . You can replicate that with an accel cap. Very close to looking like an Autolite cap.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sal Gerace (Post 1210074)

A tan colored cap was original on the 427 s/o . You can replicate that with an accel cap. Very close to looking like an Autolite cap.

Really? Ugh, black looks so much better. %/

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sal Gerace (Post 1210074)

A tan colored cap was original on the 427 s/o .

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcdoug (Post 1210168)

Really? Ugh, black looks so much better. %/

Perhaps a compromise with a "black and tan" cap?;) You could say you came up with the idea while relaxing in your favorite Irish pub....:cool: