HELP! I pulled my distributor to bench-install a Pertronix Ignitor module. I have run one since 1995 in my '67 Toronado with zero issues and have installed them in friends' cars with no issues, so this isn't my first time in this rodeo. I was surprised when I pulled the distributor to find the long additional shaft for the oil pump drive also connected, as that's not the set-up in a Toro 425, but I digress. Anyway, did the Pertronix swap, reinstalled the distributor and the car wouldn't fire. Zero spark. Ok, maybe a bad Pertronix, so I re-pull the distributor, reinstall the points, reindex the distributor noting it's a pain to reseat on the back of the block, get everything hooked back up, and again, no spark. I also noticed the distributor seems to be angled slightly toward the passenger side and I don't remember if it was that way before I pulled it or not.

Would appreciate any tips, course corrections or down-right yelling to get me straightened out...missed a great weekend to cruise and don't want to miss another one. Thanks in advance!

 

Sounds like you pulled the oil pump shaft out with the distributor. That happens a lot, and if it is not setting straight, you do not have it in place correct. I'm not sure you can get the distributor in, and not have the oil shaft connect, but if at a angle it must be.Did you have the cap off and see if it was spinning? If it is, then something else is wrong.

 

Just to clarify, not related to your no spark but did you re-install the shaft with the distributor? Is the engine turning over but not getting any spark? Did you double check the wiring to make sure you have it attached to the correct post on the coil? John

 

442Harv - I sure did, which caught me by surprise as that's never happened on my Toro. I have not checked the distributor rotor spinning with the cap off but I definitely have teeth engagement between the distributor drive great and the camshaft. I guess my question is, should I separate the oil pump shaft from the distributor and try to seat it first, or keep trying to get the whole shebang in there as it came out?

 

2Blu442 - I did reinstall the distributor with the shaft connected and everything seems seated but the distributor being on a slight angle to starboard didn't look right, so I'm wondering if I engaged drive gears but missed the oil pump engaging correctly. As for the no spark, I checked voltages to the coil with points closed at 6.5 VDC (good, per the troubleshooting chart) but at 1.7VDC on the distributor side of the coil when cranking (which is bad per the troubleshooting chart) so I suspect I coincidentally fried the coil somehow. I have a new Accel coil and a new condensor to put in but want to sort out the distributor mounting issue first. Ugh...should have climbed in there and done the Pertronix with the distributor still in the car.

 

Apparently you just got lucky with the Toro. The oil pump drive in the Toro is exactly the same as on every other Olds motor. I'd say that about 95% of the time, the shaft sticks in the distributor gear. Usually I remove it from the gear and drop it back into the motor first.

 

By the way, it isn't physically possible to insert the distributor and completely miss the oil pump, at least not without beating the $#!+ out of the distributor to bend the shaft while getting it to seat. And yes, it is angled a little to one side normally.

 

Thanks Joe - I guess I DID get lucky with the Toro, or more likely, the previous owner had it out before for some reason. Anyway, good to know I likely have the distributor in correctly...now I have to figure why coincidentally, with the points reinstalled and everything back to the way it was before I tried the Pertronix, I now have no spark. Must have bumped something somewhere on the coil or the coil was weak to begin with and gave up the ghost. More troubleshooting to do!

Very much appreciate your help...I know you're one of the most experienced folks on this forum and I value your input as I've ready many of your posts from the past trying to learn my new-to-me 442 (and remember it's NOT my '67 Toro!).

 

Just as a follow-up, I re-indexed the engine to TDC, got the distributor in with the shaft still on it and set properly to #1 cylinder (I somehow got it 90 degrees off), swapped in the points/condenser set up, hit the key and she fired right up. It absolutely would not run on the Pertronix ignitor module, which is either bad or the distributor has too much shaft play for it to work. No worries, gapped the points, set dwell to 30 degrees and all is good again. Appreciate everyone's help!

 

This doesn't surprise me. I doubt the shaft play has anything to do with it.
Get your money back on the Pertronix, and just keep the points.

 

The Pertronix was a toss-in with other spare parts when I bought the car. I have almost 30 years using them successfully in my ‘67 Toro but for my 442, they’re now in the trash.