Ugh - swapping out the distributor

[sigtauenus]

So as the title says I'm swapping out the distributor.


The car runs and I've been driving it a little bit, but I keep playing with the carb and timing trying to get it to run better.


Turns out the distributor might be the culprit. I tried setting the timing at 14* and it ran like crap. I talked to the guy who set up the carb for me over the phone and he told me to set the total timing to 35* at 3500 rpm, which I did. After that it ran slightly better, but still didn't feel right. I checked the timing at idle again and it was at 25*. I just did the whole thing again and I'm basically only getting about 10-15* of mechanical advance with this distributor. Its an Autozone reman so I'm taking it back for a refund.


New distributor is a Professional Products
http://www.professional-products.com/distributor.php


I'll let you know how it works!!

 

[DougG69]

Well, I wish you good luck.

I plan on doing the same thing this weekend on the 69. Duraspark out, MSD in. A little nervous since I've never done it before, but the instructions seem pretty straighforward.

 

[sigtauenus]

Only concern is the oil pump drive dropping into the pan. That turns a 30 min job into a 3 hr job.

 

[apollard]

The mechanical advance can be adjusted on the Ford dist by bending the stop pins. Might save you a few $

 

[sigtauenus]

Too late. Thanks though.

 

[sigtauenus]

As an update, got the distributor out last night without dropping the oil pump shaft, so that saves me some time on the install.

Found a completely burned up rotor. Need to post a pic, there is nothing left of the tip of the rotor. I'm surprised the car still ran at all. There is more going on here than the timing, I suspect the shaft was bent slightly or the bushing out of round allowing the rotor to rotate out of round.

So there is more going on here with this crappy Autozone reman than just the mechanical advance.

 

[DougG69]

As an update, got the distributor out last night without dropping the oil pump shaft, so that saves me some time on the install.

Well, that's outstanding. I hope I have your good luck with the oil pump shaft!

Your new distributor looks pretty neat - I like the external timing adjustment knob idea. That's a dangerous website for me to visit though... I want one of those Powerjection III kits

 

[sigtauenus]

Almost have the new one back in. I have it on the oil pump shaft, about 1/8" or less to go to get it fully seated. This is one of my least favorite things to do.