What are the symptoms??
Distributor lower gear clearance?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 313
Likes: 3
From: North of Boston Ma
Distributor lower gear clearance?
I am in the process of rebuiling my tach drive distributor for 1971 base 350 and can't find what the clearance or play should be for the space between the actual distributor housing to the lower gear. I have some of the ground washers on order to take up some of the slack of the shaft up and down position currently .150 thousands.
I think thats excessive
Can any one give me the correct clearance.
Thanks
Lou
I think thats excessive
Can any one give me the correct clearance.
Thanks
Lou
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
According to MSD and other references I have, 0.010" - 0.015" end play would be optimal. You typically do not want to go much tighter than 0.005". The 0.150" you have is reason for concern, and further diagnosis would be prudent as sloppy distributor clearances can cause spark scatter.
Last edited by TheSkunkWorks; May 20, 2007 at 11:17 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,380
Likes: 6,391
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
The cast iron distributors can be run pretty tight on clearance. I run about .005" to .007" as optimum. Aluminum-bodied distributors (MSD and HEIs) need a little more clearance, and I run those at .010 -.015". The iron distributors do not have the upper shim with the tabs - they use all flat shims. Moroso part number 26140 works fine.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
While spark scatter can cause problems such as irratic idle, surging, sputtering, misfires (especially under load), increased fuel consumption and loss of performance, it may be detected early by periodic checks with a timing light before symptoms become very noticeable. Good cause to keep tabs on what's going on under the hood every once in a while, even when everything seems perfect.
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