Ignation points

[boatingbill]

The KFOCI parts list show a NAPA CS719A for a 47-51. I have a '51 Kaiser with a Delco Reamy
distributor. These points look nothing like mine. The parts list also shows a 47-55
points list of NAPA 944 or 777. Is either of these correct for the '51 Kaiser? Also what is the correct
condenser as NAPA lists a 868SB or 869 for 51-55 Kaiser? I know the condenser is important to
match the points.

[Jim B PEI]

I would tend to think in the absence of facts that the listing should likely be 47-50(51) where 47-50 stands for Kaiser and Frazer both, (51) stands for the 51 Frazer which was a holdover car based on the old designs including power train, and then the separate 51-55 would be for the Kaiser only based on the new designs. If it definitely not one of the 51 mixups between the Kaiser and Henry J, then I think it likely that any changes that occurred would be with the new body shell. Just my supposition and I might be way off course.

(Of course, I have at one time ever seen a 'very early production 51 Kaiser' which had some differences in trim etc, so if there ever was a car that would be sharing mechanical parts with the 47-50(51) that later changed, it would be one of these cars)

[Fid]

For Delco-Remy it is the 777. It's even listed at NAPA's website   www.napaonline under 1952, 53, 54 Kaiser but it lists the Autolite type for 1951 Kaiser so I'm guessing Jim B is correct and they don't know that 1951 Kaiser and Frazer are different. It should be the Delco Type which is the 777. I just put a set in Weas' '51 Kaiser last summer and that's what it was.  Also have two sets of 777 in the glove box of my '53 Henry J which is Delco. My '51 Henry J, however, is Autolite and it uses that CS719A set which is different.

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

Don't forget that some 1951-52 Virginian Kaisers were factory equipped with Auto-Lite components.  These cars were built with 3-speed manual or overdrive transmissions.  The dealers were informed in a service bulletin as to differences and that the factory did this to help use up inventories.  A similar move took place with Henry J automobiles; check the service standards booklet for particulars here. 

One of the big things about distributor parts is that the distributor cap's contact with the rotor is an entirely different design.  Delco-Remy's rotor contact is bent upwards around the center point to make contact with the contact piece on the distributor cap.  Auto-Lite's contact (caps used on Kaisers and Frazers) were attached to a high tension spring wire that allowed the contact to "bounce" a bit and come down to hit the center of the rotor.   

[Henry's HenryJs]

Rock auto parts has parts.
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php

[Fid]

Yes '52 Henry J Vagabonds (which is actually what I have when I noted '51) were reserialed 1951s so they too will have Autolite. Yes, there is a service bulletin which states that some '52 Henry J Corsairs (and perhaps some '53s) were equipped with Autolite components - I don't remember which bulletin it is but lists the serial number range of the later cars which are Autolite equipped so yes, you cannot always assume! The parts book makes the distinction in it too.

[Jim B PEI]

Ah, two smarter people than this 'bear of very little brain' have pointed out the obvious that some cars, especially the HJ Vagabond and 52 Kaiser Virginians (not to be confused with other Vagabonds or other Virginians!) are reserialized 51 models, and were part of the process of using up stock, which Kaiser Frazer did so often, from the above models, to all the 1950 cars, to the 51 Frazer, to the 54 Kaiser "Early Special" to the 55s.

Hence, some differences that modern parts places just sometimes don't understand.

[boatingbill]

After discussion with NAPA, here is what I bought and installed: Delco Reamy distributor rotor is
a RR83, condenser a RR174, and points a CS777A. The car is a '51 Kaiser and seems to run fine.
FYI, when installing the condenser be sure the mounting bracket does not touch the vacuum
advance arm inside the distributor. The bracket can be slid under the vacuum arm and then the
mounting screw tightened. I installed  the points from the driver's side and it wasn't until I looked
from the passenger's side, that I saw the mounting bracket was binding against the vacuum
advance arm.