Distributor questions
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,135
Likes: 2
From: Dayton Oh
Distributor questions
I was having a little problem with my 79 yesterday coming back from work. At idle, the engine was surging and died several times. Once I got home, I checked the timing and the light just kept bouncing around. I took off the distributor cap and found that the weights were very worn and the only thing holding them in place were the springs.
Two questions:
1) Is there something else besides the springs that hold the weights into place?
2) My engine is not original and has a forged steel, nitrated crank. What type of replacement distributor gears are needed: steel or iron?
Thanks in advance.
Two questions:
1) Is there something else besides the springs that hold the weights into place?
2) My engine is not original and has a forged steel, nitrated crank. What type of replacement distributor gears are needed: steel or iron?
Thanks in advance.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 764
Likes: 2
From: THE OLDER I GET THE BETTER I WAS! NORTHERN ONTARIO
Distributor works off the cam shaft...weights are held by springs. Is this the first time you have had this type of encounter? how was it running before the problem started?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,135
Likes: 2
From: Dayton Oh
Originally Posted by G dad
Distributor works off the cam shaft...weights are held by springs. Is this the first time you have had this type of encounter? how was it running before the problem started?
Anyway, before yesterday, my 79 ran like a scoulded dog and idled perfectly except for a slight lope due to the XE262 cam.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 764
Likes: 2
From: THE OLDER I GET THE BETTER I WAS! NORTHERN ONTARIO
I wonder if we are looking at a timing chain problem. Lets line up the timing mark at zero take off your HEI cap & rotate the crank by hand to see how many degrees the balancer moves before the rotor moves. That is one easy way to check your timing chain. 
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,135
Likes: 2
From: Dayton Oh
Originally Posted by G dad
I wonder if we are looking at a timing chain problem. Lets line up the timing mark at zero take off your HEI cap & rotate the crank by hand to see how many degrees the balancer moves before the rotor moves. That is one easy way to check your timing chain.
Last edited by marshrat99; Jun 29, 2005 at 02:30 PM.
