Ford's First Use of a Battery Powered Ignition

• The Model T, built by Ford from 1908 to 1927, used a magneto ignition system that did not require power from a battery. This was a good thing since batteries were not reliable in that time period. Magnetos were popular in several different makes of cars and were considered reliable at the time. However, by the time the first Model A rolled off of assembly lines in 1928, batteries were much more reliable than in previous years, and a distributor that contained a rotor and contact points that were powered by the car's battery became standard. This type of ignition system was used well into the twentieth century by Ford.
  
  

Model A Breaker Points

• The Model A has adjustable breaker points that are accessible after the distributor cap is removed. The correct gap for the points is .020 inch. This is checked by turning the engine over using the hand crank until the points open or separate. A feeler gauge is then inserted in between the contacts, and the points are adjusted with a screwdriver to achieve the correct gap.
  
  

Finding Top Dead Center on Your Model A

• The timing on your Model A cannot be adjusted properly until top dead center (TDC) is found. When the piston of the first cylinder nearest the fan belt is at the top of its stroke, this is called top dead center. This is the benchmark that all timing adjustments must be made from. You can find TDC easily in your Model A by inserting a timing pin into the access hole in the timing gear cover. When the engine is turned over by hand, a notch in the timing gear will catch the pin, indicating you have reached TDC
  
  

Model A Ignition Timing

• Once the points have been adjusted, the timing can be set by loosening the cam screw inside the distributor. The distributor can then be turned in the direction needed, much the same way the timing in a modern vehicle with a mechanical distributor is adjusted.
  
  

Model A Electronic Ignition Upgrades

• Owners who still use their Model As on a regular basis may have an electronic ignition module installed in place of the breaker points for more reliable starting. This type of modification is not original to the car, but the module is contained inside the distributor so that the engine compartment is original in appearance.