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As you can see, the 427/390 I'm restoring is pretty rough. I went through the distributor and basically redid everything I found inside. I've never had one that far apart, however, so wanted to check a few things. This is a numbers matching (non-Corvette) date coded unit, otherwise i wouldn't have gone to the trouble!
1) I packed the little "wells" under the felt washer with wheel bearing grease, but only about 1/2" down, I didn't pack it solid. Should I have?
2) The plastic washer goes right on top of the grease well and BELOW the felt washer, right?
3) I soaked the felt washer with motor oil first, as someone suggested.
When I rebuilt mine, I packed it full of grease. I then placed the white washer on top of the grease and then the oil soaked felt washer on top of that. So it sounds like you did everything I would.
I should add, that if you are using points there is also a special grease for the cam "rubbing block" that the point ride on. Standard motor products makes some you can buy if you do not have that.
Last edited by Sigforty; Feb 21, 2018 at 12:45 PM.
I can't really say I understand the plastic washer - felt washer arrangement. You pack the reservoir with grease but then effectively seal it with the plastic washer. So I'm not sure how it works.
I can't really say I understand the plastic washer - felt washer arrangement. You pack the reservoir with grease but then effectively seal it with the plastic washer. So I'm not sure how it works.
The grease is there to lubricate the upper shaft bearing. The felt washer I believe is what the breaker plate rides on and probably helps it move for advance.
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Originally Posted by DAVE396LT1
I can't really say I understand the plastic washer - felt washer arrangement. You pack the reservoir with grease but then effectively seal it with the plastic washer. So I'm not sure how it works.
The greasewell gets packed with grease. Full. There is a small hole in the upper shaft bushing going into the greasewell. When you press the plastic washer down into the grease-packed well, it "oozes" grease out of the hole in the bushing. You then install the mainshaft into this oozing grease in the upper bushing. Over time, as the engine gets hot, the grease continues to "ooze" a little of its volatiles out of the hole in the bushing to keep the upper shaft bushing lubricated. The felt washer on top of the plastic seal prevents these oozing volatiles from polluting the points and working components of the distributor by absorbing the oils.
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Originally Posted by lars
The greasewell gets packed with grease. Full. There is a small hole in the upper shaft bushing going into the greasewell. When you press the plastic washer down into the grease-packed well, it "oozes" grease out of the hole in the bushing. You then install the mainshaft into this oozing grease in the upper bushing. Over time, as the engine gets hot, the grease continues to "ooze" a little of its volatiles out of the hole in the bushing to keep the upper shaft bushing lubricated. The felt washer on top of the plastic seal prevents these oozing volatiles from polluting the points and working components of the distributor by absorbing the oils.
Lars
Hi Lars,
Not sure that I follow what you describe.
Next time you rebuild a distributor could you post some pictures?
Thanks, Pete.
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
The upper bushing actually has a hole drilled in it. This hole goes right into the greasewell, allowing the grease to seep out the hole to the shaft. And, yes, as the grease gets old and dried out, the upper bushing no longer gets lubricated, and the distributor wears out. Luckily, there is almost no force on the upper bushing, so it survives for quite a while. Yes, I'll shoot some photos next time I rebuild a distributor and show the hole with the grease oozing out on the inside of the bushing.
Distributor refresh
