Distributor bushings
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,226
Likes: 643
From: Orange County Ca
Distributor bushings
I have ALOT of slop in the bottom end of my distributor. Seems to work alright, but I think I should try to fix it. Saw replacement bushings in a catalog. Has anyone replaced these. Sounds alot cheaper than buying a rebuilt unit of questionable quality.
Also, anyone know who might sell these bushings besides the mail order company's?
Also, anyone know who might sell these bushings besides the mail order company's?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,380
Likes: 6,391
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Replacement of the bushings is pretty straight forward, but installation of the upper bushing does require a tool to avoid damaging the bushing. The tool and the bushing are sold by Mid America and other vendors. The only tricky thing is getting the upper and lower bushings to align just rght so that the shaft is not in a tight bind. This usually requires knocking the upper bushing around a little to get it into the correct alignment with the lower bushing.
Depending on which way the slop is in your distributor, the bushing may or may not fix it... If you have vertical slop in the shaft (up and down), you need to shim the shaft end play using Moroso part number 26140. If you have lateral play (bushing slop), you need to replace the bushings. Keep in mind, however, that if the bushings are worn out, chances are very good that your mainshaft is scored and trashed as well. If you put new bushings on a scored shaft, the new bushings will self destruct very quickly. Replace the mainshaft if it's scored up in the lower bushing area.
Depending on which way the slop is in your distributor, the bushing may or may not fix it... If you have vertical slop in the shaft (up and down), you need to shim the shaft end play using Moroso part number 26140. If you have lateral play (bushing slop), you need to replace the bushings. Keep in mind, however, that if the bushings are worn out, chances are very good that your mainshaft is scored and trashed as well. If you put new bushings on a scored shaft, the new bushings will self destruct very quickly. Replace the mainshaft if it's scored up in the lower bushing area.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
From: Lake Anna Virginia
Originally Posted by lars
Keep in mind, however, that if the bushings are worn out, chances are very good that your mainshaft is scored and trashed as well. If you put new bushings on a scored shaft, the new bushings will self destruct very quickly. Replace the mainshaft if it's scored up in the lower bushing area.
he should be safe, for the time being, right?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 6,134
Likes: 46
From: Raleigh North Carolina
Originally Posted by commando57
If the timing mark is not jumping around when viewed with the light
he should be safe, for the time being, right?
he should be safe, for the time being, right?
Depends.
If you have a mechanical Tach Drive, it (cross gear & shaft gear) won't like the slop... either vertical or horiziontal.
You may not be able to see the timing variation.
Excessive endplay allows the distributor main shaft/gear to move up & down relative to the cam gear... causing your timing to vary. Most-times you can see it with a timing light, sometimes you can't.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 6,744
Likes: 1
From: delmont pa
Cruise-In I Veteran
Cruise-In II Veteran
Originally Posted by glenkov48
Slop is side to side. I think I'll give the bushings a try. Thanks for the info.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
After going through a few bushings myself I drilled a 1/8th hole in the area where the distributor passes through the oil gallery. This allows pressurized oil to pass through the hole and lube the bushing. The larger hole and I did drill a second one allows the oil to escape.
Originally I believe the hole was to allow oil to enter the distributor housing and lube the bushing.
I also file a groove about .030 wide and .030 deep to allow oil to lube the distributor gear.
Originally I believe the hole was to allow oil to enter the distributor housing and lube the bushing.
I also file a groove about .030 wide and .030 deep to allow oil to lube the distributor gear.
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