69 BB distributor rebuild
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,376
Likes: 6,375
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
The bushings are pressed in. I knock them out using a piece of 3/8" fuel line that's flared on the end: The flared end catches the edges of the bushings on the inside, and you can knock the bushings out.
Installing the new bushings requires a special tool that slips inside the bushings and protects them while you hammer them in - Mid America sells the tool, and I'm sure other vendors carry them as well. Once they're in, it's important that you get the upper bushing perfectly aligned with the lower bushing, since the upper bushing can easily **** enough to prevent good alignment, and this will cause problems with shaft binding and bushing wear. I have an old distributor mainshaft that I use to knock the upper bushing into alignment. Also note that there is no "stop" for the bushings, and it's important that the upper bushing be installed at exactly the right height to retain the breaker plate - the snap ring groove needs to be at the correct height.
Installing the new bushings requires a special tool that slips inside the bushings and protects them while you hammer them in - Mid America sells the tool, and I'm sure other vendors carry them as well. Once they're in, it's important that you get the upper bushing perfectly aligned with the lower bushing, since the upper bushing can easily **** enough to prevent good alignment, and this will cause problems with shaft binding and bushing wear. I have an old distributor mainshaft that I use to knock the upper bushing into alignment. Also note that there is no "stop" for the bushings, and it's important that the upper bushing be installed at exactly the right height to retain the breaker plate - the snap ring groove needs to be at the correct height.
i got a carb coming his way shortly... if you gotta get it done, get it done by the best
