Distributor Refurbish
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,237
Likes: 288
From: ESCONDIDO CA
2025 C2 of the Year ('63 and '67) Finalist - Unmodified
C2 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Distributor Refurbish
I want to refurbish my big block distributor. Any thing I need to know when I put it back together?
1967 Pedal Car Champion
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 9,003
Likes: 4,158
From: US-PNW
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,455
Likes: 1,482
From: Little Rock AR
Thanks for posting that. I had a distributor torn down for an overhaul and could not find much on the proper procedures and lubes. Added it to my "library".
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,237
Likes: 288
From: ESCONDIDO CA
2025 C2 of the Year ('63 and '67) Finalist - Unmodified
C2 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Exactly what I was looking for-thank you for posting! It's the details about lubrication that will make all the difference.
--Steve
--Steve
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,191
Likes: 950
From: Corpus Christi, TX
Please be sure to check that the distributor drive gear doesn't bottom out on the oil pump drive after you fix it up and get the end clearance trimmed up.
I drove this thing around for 15 years with the gear end clearance at .150 and that's not a typo. It ran perfectly and the timing was rock steady so I just left it alone all that time. I got the thing all shimned up correctly and whatdya know, the gear bottomed out and left the distributor housing off the intake manifold. It took about .130 of nylon washers to get it squared away. All that block decking and line boring did weird things.... lol
I drove this thing around for 15 years with the gear end clearance at .150 and that's not a typo. It ran perfectly and the timing was rock steady so I just left it alone all that time. I got the thing all shimned up correctly and whatdya know, the gear bottomed out and left the distributor housing off the intake manifold. It took about .130 of nylon washers to get it squared away. All that block decking and line boring did weird things.... lol
Old Pro Solo Guy
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 8,014
Likes: 4,367
From: Marlton NJ
Well, there is "rebuilding" it and then there is "blueprinting" it.
The distributor is the one engine component that is the least understood in a car, and yet is actually the single most important part to get "tuned" correctly to have your car run it's best.
These days it's called setting your distributor curve, in the old days it was called power-tuning, and it was the number one item altered by manufacturers to get engines thru the new emission standards in the 60s & 70s, and those changes started in 1965. 1964 was the last time a chevy left the factory with a great distributor curve.
And it is very possible for you to curve your distributor while it is on the work-bench, and apart, rather than in the car. All you need is a handheld vacuum pump and a protractor.
See my distributor blueprint thread below. That should give you enough ideas that you can do it yourself:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ing-chart.html
The distributor is the one engine component that is the least understood in a car, and yet is actually the single most important part to get "tuned" correctly to have your car run it's best.
These days it's called setting your distributor curve, in the old days it was called power-tuning, and it was the number one item altered by manufacturers to get engines thru the new emission standards in the 60s & 70s, and those changes started in 1965. 1964 was the last time a chevy left the factory with a great distributor curve.
And it is very possible for you to curve your distributor while it is on the work-bench, and apart, rather than in the car. All you need is a handheld vacuum pump and a protractor.
See my distributor blueprint thread below. That should give you enough ideas that you can do it yourself:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ing-chart.html
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,237
Likes: 288
From: ESCONDIDO CA
2025 C2 of the Year ('63 and '67) Finalist - Unmodified
C2 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Well, At least now I know a shitload of what I don't know and not sure I have the band width to understand it. But it is so interesting the depth of knowledge in this forum...
Thanks!
Thanks!
