Overall tune-up...where to find parts.

P

PJohnson

New member
Thank you for adding me to the group! I'm anxious to get started on a project I recently purchased - a 1956 R-185 pumper truck. It's equipped with what I believe is the standard 376 CI six cylinder, T-34 five-speed transmission and single speed rear axle. It runs OK...not great, but I did drive it home, about a 2 hour trip. I'll be rebuilding the Holley carb (kit is on the way) and I would like to see what a basic tune-up will do for driveability. Plugs and wires can likely be sourced locally, but I need to find points and a rotor. Any ideas for a source for such parts?

I've also read that others with similar trucks have switched to another type of ignition and I assume this means electronic ignition. Does such a system exist and is it compatible with a positive-ground system?

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide!!
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Engineer Reed here, lets see a pic of the pump panel. PTO or Auxiliary pump? Not a lot of medium duty truck fans here. Congratulations!
 
Hi, welcome. Need more info from you .

Please verify that your engine has a Delco distributor.
Also provide the Delco part number of the distributor. It should be on the distributor body on a plate or tag.
It should be a seven digit number.
Also verify your truck is 6V or 12V, and if Negative Ground or Positive Ground.

Most likely a PerTronix electronic ignition unit is available for this, but need the above questions answered to determine the correct PerTronix Unit for your distributor.

EDIT: Please take the distributor cap & rotor off and take a picture of the interior of the distributor from straight overhead.
Would like to see your points and condenser situation.
Any other photos may also be useful.
Thank you!
 
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I will get photos in the next day or so. I do know that it is a 12V positive-ground system. I will send along all other information I can find when I investigate the current distributor in more detail. Thanks!
 
Here's a picture of the panel. It runs off the PTO and has a power control in the cab. To be honest, I'm still trying to work out how it all operates.
 
1975IH200 said:
Hi, welcome. Need more info from you .

Please verify that your engine has a Delco distributor.
Also provide the Delco part number of the distributor. It should be on the distributor body on a plate or tag.
It should be a seven digit number.
Also verify your truck is 6V or 12V, and if Negative Ground or Positive Ground.

Most likely a PerTronix electronic ignition unit is available for this, but need the above questions answered to determine the correct PerTronix Unit for your distributor.

EDIT: Please take the distributor cap & rotor off and take a picture of the interior of the distributor from straight overhead.
Would like to see your points and condenser situation.
Any other photos may also be useful.
Thank you!
Click to expand...
I wasn't able to get the distributor cap off this afternoon but I did get photos of the ignition system (see attached). I'll try tomorrow...we have a big storm starting tomorrow so it doesn't appear that I'll be going anywhere for awhile...
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PJohnson said:
Here's a picture of the panel. It runs off the PTO and has a power control in the cab. To be honest, I'm still trying to work out how it all operates.
Click to expand...
That's a nice simple panel and you won't get distracted be a lot of blinking lights. There are 2 types of PTO one has the transmission in gear and the other in neutral. What are you trying to workout?
 
FDChappie said:
That's a nice simple panel and you won't get distracted be a lot of blinking lights. There are 2 types of PTO one has the transmission in gear and the other in neutral. What are you trying to workout?
Click to expand...
Honestly, right now I'm working on driveability (carb kit, ignition work, etc) and then I'll try to do something about the gearing. Also need to add turn signals (surprised to learn they weren't standard) and a few other items. Then we'll worry about the pump and its operation.
 
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