VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 32 distributor timing

I have a 32 Chev and the distributor shorted out. It was a makeshift arrangement by someone after the electrolock was removed. I could not get it fixed so have installed a 33 distributor 644D. Is it possible to install 180deg off or will it only fit one way. There is no steel ball on the flywheel, but there is a mark 10/ and also one marked U/C. I think the engine has a different bell housing as the timing hole cover plate will not fit and the pan that covers the flywheel and clutch underneath appears to be hand made. The engine number is 32, but apparently a rebuild entailed many changes. The car ran great for 3 years and this is a new problem. Nothing makes sense. My next steo is to remove the valve cover and see when number one fires. Any suggestions?

Hi There and welcome to Chevy Chatter. Glad to have you with us!


Yes, you can install the distributor 180 degrees off.



On the 1932 194 cubic inch engine, no steel ball was used. There were two marks on the flywheel.....one at U/C and the other at 12 degrees. In 1932 the timing mark was 12 degrees, not 10 degrees.

The 33 distributor has vacuum advance while the 32 does not. To get the correct advice it is best to verify that you do indeed have a 32 engine and 32 distributor.There should be some letters and numbers cast into the block on the rh side to the rear of the dist, a letter followed by two numbers and another number,such as b 23 2 meaning it was cast on feb 23 of 1932. A short in the distributor does not warrant a replacement, and should be fairly easy to repair by insulating the stud that passes thru the body. Yes the distributor can be 180 deg out. The u/c is upper center or top dead center and the 10 would be 10 deg before tdc. Your timing should be 18 deg before tdc and the plugs gapped at .040, at least thats the concensus of most on this site fot the 31 and 32 engine. There are many on this site that are much more versed on this subject than I and I am sure you will get the information and help you need.