Centrifugal advance weights ???

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Oct 3, 2001 | 08:23 PM

Pedro'74

Thread Starter

Melting Slicks

Joined: Jul 1999

Posts: 3,201

Likes: 0

From: Clifton Park NY

Centrifugal advance weights ???

Hi All,

I've noticed some time ago that my distributor has a very short advance curve. If I set the total advance to 36 degrees, then the initial advance is about 24 degrees, which gives only 12 degrees of mechanical advance. (The spec for my distributor is 18 degrees, which is already short enough.) Anyway, today I tried to figure out what was wrong, and I found out that the weights are restricting the advance. I guess someone replaced the weights by aftermarket ones... Question: where can I find the correct weights for my distributor, which will not restrict the centrifugal advance? I've heard that aftermarket weights are junk... Can I get a set from the Chevy dealer? If so, does anyone happen to know the part number? Or should I hit the junkyards?

Thanks in advance!

-Pedro

Oct 3, 2001 | 08:36 PM

clem zahrobsky

Le Mans Master

Joined: Mar 1999

Posts: 6,744

Likes: 1

From: delmont pa

Cruise-In I Veteran

Cruise-In II Veteran

Re: Centrifugal advance weights ??? (Pedro'74)

try it without the springs as the springs may be too stiff to allow full advance. :chevy

Oct 3, 2001 | 08:39 PM

Pedro'74

Thread Starter

Melting Slicks

Joined: Jul 1999

Posts: 3,201

Likes: 0

From: Clifton Park NY

Re: Centrifugal advance weights ??? (clem zahrobsky)

Clem,

Thanks for your response. I did try without the springs--that's how I set the advance to 36. So today I found out that if I rotate the distributor to one side, and then remove the weights, then I'm able to rotate it further. That's why I think the problem is with the weights.

Thanks,
-Pedro

Oct 3, 2001 | 08:51 PM

clem zahrobsky

Le Mans Master

Joined: Mar 1999

Posts: 6,744

Likes: 1

From: delmont pa

Cruise-In I Veteran

Cruise-In II Veteran

Re: Centrifugal advance weights ??? (Pedro'74)

the after market ones are junk unless they are hardened. try them with a file to see if they are heat treated. do you have a HEI distributor? your best bet then is the salvage lots. :chevy

Oct 3, 2001 | 10:17 PM

Pedro'74

Thread Starter

Melting Slicks

Joined: Jul 1999

Posts: 3,201

Likes: 0

From: Clifton Park NY

Re: Centrifugal advance weights ??? (clem zahrobsky)

Clem,

I have a non-HEI distributor. I think I'll try the salvage yards....

Thanks again,
-Pedro

Oct 4, 2001 | 12:20 AM

cgebert

Racer

Joined: Oct 2000

Posts: 311

Likes: 0

From: West Newton PA

Re: Centrifugal advance weights ??? (Pedro'74)

The stock weights do not allow full advance. Lars sells a kit to recurve your distributor. It includes custom weights, springs, and vacuum advance unit, You send him your specs and some money, he sends you a custom kit that suits your setup. Lots of people on the forum are running them.

Oct 4, 2001 | 12:24 AM

Pedro'74

Thread Starter

Melting Slicks

Joined: Jul 1999

Posts: 3,201

Likes: 0

From: Clifton Park NY

Re: Centrifugal advance weights ??? (cgebert)

cgebert,

Thanks for your reply. Actually I have Lar's kit, but it doesn't include the weights. If I remember correctly, he specifically recommends that one uses the stock weights, and not aftermarket ones.

-Pedro

[Modified by Pedro'74, 11:29 PM 10/3/2001]

Oct 4, 2001 | 12:50 AM

cgebert

Racer

Joined: Oct 2000

Posts: 311

Likes: 0

From: West Newton PA

Re: Centrifugal advance weights ??? (clem zahrobsky)

Oops. Somehow I missed the fact that yours is a '74 and therefore not HEI. My bad. Lars is probably the best person to field this question though. I would have to guess that you're correct about the non-stock weights. There's always the junkyard.