distributor question
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 221
Likes: 1
From: Sylmar CA
distributor question
My carb is out being rebuilt. So I decided to take a look at my distributor to clean it up. Got a few recommendations, just waiting on a part to take it all apart but when I opened it up I saw that it was really rusted in there and the magnetic pickup seems to be ripped? it looks ripped to me. Also the reflector looks really rusty too. Is there a way to test the module and the other parts? Not sure if it'd be worth the rebuild if I could just get another new distributor for roughly the same price and same performance.
Those are the pictures I got.
I was also just looking at this distributor in case some of my rebuild components add up to around $100.
http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/corve...1975-1980.html
'77 vette btw.
Those are the pictures I got.
I was also just looking at this distributor in case some of my rebuild components add up to around $100.
http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/corve...1975-1980.html
'77 vette btw.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,370
Likes: 6,364
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
That's a nice, clean non-rusty distributor in very good shape. Usually, when people say they're "rusty" the thing looks like a relic from the Titanic. If the advance mechanism is operating smoothly, just replace the vacuum advance with a well-matched unit, and set the distributor up with a set of springs that will allow you full centrifugal advance between 2500-3000 rpm. You can pull the distributor out, clean it up, shim it, and do a bunch of other work, but it won't gain you anything if the advance mechanism isn't currently seized.
Lars
Lars
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,317
Likes: 111
From: St Louis MO
I agree - I'd clean and re-use it.
I have also noted that some TV programs (and web sites) have shown the distributor advance cam (marked 370) flipped over. I believe that what your pictures show is the correct orientation, and is the way I've always done it. The key is that the short arm of the advance weight contacts the side of the cam without the dog leg.
Lars - care to comment?
Cheers!
I have also noted that some TV programs (and web sites) have shown the distributor advance cam (marked 370) flipped over. I believe that what your pictures show is the correct orientation, and is the way I've always done it. The key is that the short arm of the advance weight contacts the side of the cam without the dog leg.
Lars - care to comment?
Cheers!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 221
Likes: 1
From: Sylmar CA
Might be a dumb question, but here it goes. Should I change the rotor and cap as well or that shouldn't really matter for this? I can get pictures to show if needed. I'm just curious if it'll affect the performance.
That's a nice, clean non-rusty distributor in very good shape.
