The table below is a summary of the aftermarket ignition interchange part numbers I have been able to determine for the typical Model A and B Ford ignition tune-up items like points, rotors, condensors, distributor caps, etc.
Do you have any to add to the list?
| Description | Ford | Niehoff | Filko | Standard Motor Products |
Motorcraft | Echlin NAPA |
AMPCO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Contact Points Set | A-12199 | FF-14-15 | 48-45 | FD 1718 | DP-104 | CS 30 | F 81 |
| A Contact Arm | A-12162 | FF 14 | FB 48 | FA 16 | |||
| A Contact Screw | A-12172 | FF 15 | FC 45 | FA 7 | |||
| B Contact Points Set | B-12199 | FF-23-15 | 49-45 | F-82-W | |||
| B Contact Arm | B-12162 | FF 23 | FB 49 | FA 14 | |||
| B Contact Screw | B-12172 | FF 15 | FC 45 | FA 7 | |||
| A Condenser | A-12300 | FO 200 | FD 11 | DC-1 | FA 5 | F 580 | |
| B Condenser | B-12300 | FF 21 | FO 201 | FD 55 | FA 10 | F 581 | |
| Rotor | B-12200 | FF 12 | FO 71 | FD 15 | FA 3 | F 901 | |
| Distributor Body | B-12105 | FO 70 | FD 22 | F 900 | |||
| Distributor Cap | B-12115 | FO 70A | FD 21 | FA 9 | F 902 | ||
| "Hi-Speed" Distributor Cap |
FF 71 | F 928 | |||||
| A Upper Plate w/ Points |
FF 106 | BA-2 | |||||
| A Upper Plate w/o Points |
A-12151 | BA-2LP | FD 29 | FA 30 | |||
| A Lower Plate Asm | A-12148 | BA-20 | F 3811 |
It is generally unreliable and not recommended to use old or NOS condensers due to the technology used to make them. Many of them are subject to failure due to perforation of the internal wax paper type insulator which separates the foil layers.
The failure risk is compounded by the physical location of the condenser on a Model A. It is placed inside the cast iron distributor casting, just above the cylinder head, and close to the exhaust manifold. This is a high temperature environment with little air circulation or cooling.
Virtually all other automotive condensers are placed up high and away from engine heat, and inside more thermally conductive aluminum distributors.
To minimize the risk of condenser failure, it is generally held that the modern "burnout-proof" condensers produced specifically by A&L Parts Specialties are the best performing and most reliable. They have a modern polyester film internal insulator and are specifically designed to withstand the high heat conditions found in the Model A application.