Anyone Have Any Experience With 24 Volt Distributors?

I have a 24 volt distributor out of a M38A1. It needs new points,cap, and rotor but it is missing the oring seal for the cover and the power feed wire that screws I into the side of the distributor. Where could I find these parts with out spending a large amount of money. I would even be fine with finding a used power feed wire fitting and rewire it.

 

When I first picked up my A1, it had been converted to 12v but retained the original distributor. It had a 12v coil in it. I changed it out to an exterior coil mounted on the engine block. It's easy to figure out the routing of the wire going from coil to dist. Make a plate to cover that hole on the side. It's not original to the engine anyhow, so make the changes you need to make to get it working.

Military jeep suppliers will have caps etc. I think Walcks does too. I'd say $50-100 will get you what you need.

I have swapped mine out for a 4008 I picked up from oldtime. But the original mil ones are solid and well built. The interior coil is unique (due to the waterproofing/underwater features) but it doesn't have to stay there. If you keep it there, you'll have to make sure the venting system is hooked up so fresh air passes over the coil and cools it. Also, a 12v interior coil is pricey.

 

Generally military parts are easy to find through surplus vehicle specialists. Especially because they were standard over many years and often among multiple vehicles, and because the govt stockpiled parts.

Just google it. Or try Ebay.
M38 M38A1 M715 M151 DISTRIBUTOR WIRE POWER FEED
m38A1 distributor | eBay

O-rings can be custom made if necessary. My local hardware store even used to do it. Or just search ebay for the dimension you need. There's a bazillion of them available.

 

Do the 12 volt ignition coils have internal ballast resistors just like the 24 volt ignition coils?

 

Eh, not sure. But I never saw anything on the jeep that resembled a ballast resistor (or in the technical manual)