L79 Distributor Question
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
From: Westport CT
L79 Distributor Question
Ok everyone, after careful and extensive research and a LOT of help from members of this site, I've come to the conclusion that the issue that I'm having(WAY too much mechanical/centrifugal advance) is based on a problem with parts within the distributor. I will be checking shortly, but I believe that the problem is with either the weights, springs, and MOST likely, the limit bushing. I plan on installing new advance curve springs, a new limit bushing, and new weights, if need be. My question is, CAN i change those parts WITHOUT taking the distributor out of the engine, which I would obviously prefer, or does the distributor HAVE to come out to change those parts correctly? IF it has to come out, HOW big of a job is that, and is it something I can do myself, and reinstall it correctly, assuming I'm somewhat handy under the hood. I'm trying to solve a problem here, not create a larger one....any thoughts ? :banghead:
POSSE ZR-1 Driver
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,980
Likes: 139
From: Groton CT
Re: L79 Distributor Question (BigBlockThunder)
I have done all of the above with the distributor in the car. The hardest one was the limiting bushing because it goes on from under the weights and you've got to get it to fit into the slot. Small parts, Big fingers...... Just got to be slow, patient and use small tools.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 371
Likes: 1
From: Nashville TN
Re: L79 Distributor Question (Subfixer)
Pulling the distributor is not a big deal if you pay attention to the direction that the rotor is pointing. It only takes a minute and will make working on the distributor a whole lot easier. If you lose it, just be patient with a manual and drop it back in. The rotor will rotate as you drop it back in because of the gear angle. Go hmm; pull and rotate the rotor back a little and drop it back in.
[Modified by stngry63, 12:46 AM 11/15/2003]
[Modified by stngry63, 12:46 AM 11/15/2003]
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 774
Likes: 4
From: RI
Re: L79 Distributor Question (paul67)
Pulling the dist is one of those things that once you do it a few times it gets very easy. There are two things that seem to confuse people. One The gear teeth are angle cut so the dist rotates as it slides down. The rotor needs to be positioned to the right of your mark. As it drops in it will rotate slightly. The second thing that seems to cause trouble is the oil pump drive slot alignment. Because the angle cut teeth rotates the dist, it will mis-align itself with the oil pump drive slot. If you remove the dist it will not drop back in without realigning the oil pump drive slot. I use my oil pump primer tool to turn the oil pump drive slot back slightly but a large screwdriver will work also. If you know how to align the oil pump slot and if you know how much to pre-rotate the dist, it is about a 5 min job to pull out dist and drop it back in.
Racer
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 431
Likes: 1
From: close to Frankfurt/Main Germany
Re: L79 Distributor Question (SWCDuke)
All that is true....and to add the one thing...these guys gave great advice as to replace all turning parts in my dist.....did that and all problems are gone.
It is really essential to replace all these parts and the related bushings. At the end it is not a very great deal. We also replaced weights and springs and tested them on a dist. tuneup machine.
Added a breakerless ignition too.....best investment. :smash:
It is really essential to replace all these parts and the related bushings. At the end it is not a very great deal. We also replaced weights and springs and tested them on a dist. tuneup machine.
Added a breakerless ignition too.....best investment. :smash:
Pro
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 630
Likes: 0
From: New York, NY 10154
Re: L79 Distributor Question (BigBlockThunder)
Put me in the afraid camp on pulling a distributer. When I change points, condensers, etc on my distributer I lay a magnet (on both sides) below where I am working atop manifold next to dist shaft. If I drop a screw or something the magnet gets. :cool:
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 6,808
Likes: 24
From: Westport CT
Re: L79 Distributor Question (Daren Schneider)
yeah, me too. Even though I would score myself as an accomplished home mechanic, something about pulling the distributor raises the gut fear of all diy-ers everywhere - having to make the dreaded "ok, come tow this car to your shop and make it run again cause I really f-ed it up" phone call.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,460
Likes: 5
From: Wheaton IL
Re: L79 Distributor Question (ctjackster)
Just pulled my first distributor last night. The hardest part was getting the damn tach. cable off. I took lots of pictures to capture the rotor picture.
All you have to do is remove the cap, coil wire, hold down bolt, and tach. cable. Then you simply pull up and it comes right out.
Queston - is there any differnece between the 250,300HP low RPM distributors and the SHP distributors aside from advance curves and vacuum cans?
Brian
All you have to do is remove the cap, coil wire, hold down bolt, and tach. cable. Then you simply pull up and it comes right out.
Queston - is there any differnece between the 250,300HP low RPM distributors and the SHP distributors aside from advance curves and vacuum cans?
Brian
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 6,808
Likes: 24
From: Westport CT
Re: L79 Distributor Question (Allcoupedup)
Just pulled my first distributor last night. The hardest part was getting the damn tach. cable off. I took lots of pictures to capture the rotor picture.
All you have to do is remove the cap, coil wire, hold down bolt, and tach. cable. Then you simply pull up and it comes right out. . . . .
All you have to do is remove the cap, coil wire, hold down bolt, and tach. cable. Then you simply pull up and it comes right out. . . . .
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
Likes: 1,926
From: Washington Michigan
Re: L79 Distributor Question (Allcoupedup)
Queston - is there any differnece between the 250,300HP low RPM distributors and the SHP distributors aside from advance curves and vacuum cans?
Brian
Brian
