Distributor rebuild

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old December 17th, 2018, 01:02 PM
  #1  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
stevengerard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Chi-town
Posts: 4,511
Distributor rebuild

My 1111979 1970 W30 Automatic distributor could use a rebuild. Is there anyone out there that can reliably change the cam and weights. Or is this something I can do
stevengerard is offline  
Old December 17th, 2018, 02:22 PM
  #2  
Registered User
 
Fun71's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 13,754
It's fairly easy to disassemble the distributor, clean, grease, install new bushings, etc.
Weights are simple to change as they just drop onto pins and are held in place by the springs.
By "cam" do you mean the center section where the points ride?

Last edited by Fun71; December 17th, 2018 at 02:25 PM.
Fun71 is offline  
Old December 17th, 2018, 02:35 PM
  #3  
Old(s) Fart
 
joe_padavano's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 47,300
Originally Posted by Fun71
It's fairly easy to disassemble the distributor, clean, grease, install new bushings, etc.
^^^THIS. Drive out the spring pin holding the driven gear to the shaft, and the shaft simply pulls up out of the housing. Be sure there are no burrs on the edges of that spring pin hole first, however. As noted, the weights are right on top once you remove the rotor. No disassembly required to change them or the springs.
joe_padavano is online now  
Old December 17th, 2018, 05:11 PM
  #4  
Registered User
 
Sugar Bear's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,996
Changing the weights is not difficult but it isn't a distributor rebuild. A common problem is worn bushings that can cause dwell/timing fluctuations. I don't know who does this but having the distributor professionally rebuilt with both the mechanical and vacuum advances dialed in to spec on a SUN distributor machine is the way to go on a car of that caliber.

If you take it apart, there is a dimple in the gear that points toward the installed rotor contact. Check it and align them before pinning the gear in place.

Good luck!
Sugar Bear is online now  
Old December 17th, 2018, 07:24 PM
  #5  
Phantom Phixer
 
Charlie Jones's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Apopka, FL
Posts: 4,668
If the bushings are worn , I can recommend Everyday Performance in CT . http://www.everyday-performance.com/
I shipped them my 394 distributor . They re-bushed the shaft so there is no discernable " side to side " play .
They also re-curved the unit with an old fashioned Sun distributor machine .
Very nice work and prompt service .
Charlie Jones is offline  
Old December 17th, 2018, 09:36 PM
  #6  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
stevengerard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Chi-town
Posts: 4,511
Thanks, I'll look into Everyday performance. I know thw weight are easy to change but yes I thought it was the cam or whatg ever that center section is called being warn. But maybe its the bushings.
stevengerard is offline  
Old December 18th, 2018, 04:39 AM
  #7  
Moderator
 
Olds64's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Edmond, OK
Posts: 15,888
Originally Posted by Sugar Bear
Changing the weights is not difficult but it isn't a distributor rebuild.
x2

I recently bought a parts store distributor for my 71 98 with a lifetime warranty because the Summit HEI I was running for a number of years fried the pickup coil. I could have disassembled the distributor I had but I figured MAW!
Olds64 is online now  
Old December 18th, 2018, 12:22 PM
  #8  
Registered User
 
My442's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,257
Thumbs up

Originally Posted by stevengerard
Thanks, I'll look into Everyday performance. I know the weight are easy to change but yes I thought it was the cam or whatever that center section is called being warn. But maybe its the bushings.
X100 on Ken at Everyday Performance. Super knowledgeable with outstanding quality.
My442 is offline  
Old December 20th, 2018, 01:46 PM
  #9  
Registered User
 
D. Yaros's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: SE Wisconsin
Posts: 1,915
If I were in need of distributor rebuild services, I know for a fact that I would be speaking with the folks at:

Terrell Machine
AddressPhone(254) 893-2610

Last edited by D. Yaros; December 21st, 2018 at 03:33 PM.
D. Yaros is offline  
Old December 20th, 2018, 01:53 PM
  #10  
Registered User
 
FStanley's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 513
another place, good work.. http://www.nelsonspecialties.com/
FStanley is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
big man
Big Blocks
8
April 1st, 2018 08:40 AM
BillK
Big Blocks
0
February 12th, 2018 05:36 PM
pappyl
Small Blocks
17
September 8th, 2015 09:30 PM
pcard
General Questions
20
September 5th, 2013 10:14 AM
O's_Car
Big Blocks
7
August 31st, 2009 06:34 PM



Quick Reply: Distributor rebuild



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 06:29 AM.