Interesting subject! Here are a few shots of the 216 distributor inside and out if you want to match it up with a 235. I do not have a 235 distributor around here, maybe one of the other guys does and can take some pics of it from a few different angles. I think the only outside visual difference see is where the grease cup is located.
http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2646130180098611668kmCppj Now inside, like Josiah mentioned there are different advance curves for the two engines. You can research this for your self but from what I can find in the parts books (only up to ‘54) the 1882595 .680" free length springs were used in all the 216 distributors from 1941 thru 1953 and on the 235 up to 1949. From 1950 to 1952 the 235 used a 1912127 .745” free length spring then in ’53 and ’54 went through a couple more changes.
The 1879063 weights appear to be the same from 1940 to 1953 for all but in ’53 the 235 switched to a different weight and again in ‘54.
Also from 1950 up the cams are different for the 235’s. The differences beyond 1954 just gets to convoluted to discuss here.
The parts books do show several different numbers for the gears also but I’m not clear as to what the differences would be.
So all in all there appear to be quite a bit of difference in the two distributors inside. However, they still may interchange but just not perform the same. If anyone has a Hollander for these years they might check the interchange.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL
