My bone stock 1970 98LS with 455 and breaker points ignition is giving my shop a run for its money. She was due for a tune-up after 5 years (but only 5K miles) but running okay. I was planning to do it myself but other stuff took priority so I brought her to a shop I use regularly. I was having them tune her up including carb adjustment with all OEM parts down to the fuel filter and original AC R45S plugs. The ones in her were colder R43S that I was told would help with modern swamp water gas and the previous owner told me they retarded the timing to keep her from pinging. They found a lot of rust and the distributor wouldn't turn, so I picked up a rebuilt Cardone for them. They put it in with all new points, condenser, OEM cap and rotor, OEM plugs, and OEM fuel filter and set the timing. They took her for a test drive, she made it 5 miles at about 45-50mph, backfired so loud neighbors called the cops, then died. After hauling her back on a wrecker, they tried starting her and got weak to no spark and now the distributor is stuck and they can't get it out. All this because of a tune-up? The only other thing they replaced was the master cylinder and all the rubber brake hoses. Any ideas of what it could be? They think it is a bad rebuild distributor. I don't know what adjustments they made to the carb. I did give them all the chapters from the shop manual for a tune-up and distributor replacement to use.

Thanks,
Steve

 

I had a similar problem with a cardone rebuild, there was grease in the points contacts. You'd of thought they would have lubricated the Oring prior to installing the distributor back into the engine or it's stuck to the oil pump shaft. Either way it just needs to be tapped up and out with a hammer.

 

I hope you still have the old distributor, send it out to be rebuilt by someone with a Sun distributor machine. About removing the old distributor, load it with penetrating oil around the base and walk away for a day if you can. Put a small pair of channel locks around the base of the distributor and try to rotate it. Tapping it upward as oldcutlass stated will help but am adding to his advice, tap lightly as the housings are brittle and may crack.

Good luck!!!

 

Thanks for this info, I can pass this on to the mechanic. He had asked where I got the rebuild and had a feeling it could be bad. I feel better knowing someone else had an issue with a Cardone. The problem I find is that it is the only rebuild type I can find. I just hope that backfire didn't damage anything else like a timing chain.

 

If the backfire caused it to jump time the chain was way overdue. A compression test would be good at this time.

The most likely thing to get damaged would be the muffler if anything at all.

 

That makes me feel better, I was afraid other things could've been damaged.

 

The fact it’s still running is encouraging. If a timing chain jumps, it’s possible to bend valves due to the camshaft timing being way off.

If the timing chain is in fact junk, remove the oil pan. All the nylon from the cam gear will bring the oil pump pickup.

 

Small slide hammer - 2 or 3 light little taps roughly upward (hood clearance) and it’ll come right out. No muss, fuss or strain.

 

I've had good luck with Everyday Performance to re-build a distributor .
They will replace worn bushings and they even have an old time Sun distributor machine to set the advance curve .
Everyday Performance Distributor Services (everyday-performance.com)

 

^^^ This, ^^^ Your distributor gets cleaned, rebushed, other worn parts replaced and then put on a machine so the tech can get the timing advance in spec. These are the steps that makes the difference between a car that runs and one that really runs well. With a replacement rebuild you won't get the precision tuning.

It's like going to a shoe store wearing a size 9, the clerk never asks what size, you don't tell them and leave with size 12's...you'll never be happy, the exact stuff makes a huge difference.

Good luck!!!

Good luck!!!

 

It's so hot here in Washington, they haven't got back to it. The car only has 69,000 original miles so I wouldn't think the timing chain would be overdue. She did sit in the original owner's garage for a while back in the 90's though. The old distributor is in the back seat. I did notice that someone in the past discarded the RFI covers, they weren't in it when it came off.

 

At 69k yes the chain probably didn't jump. I'm guessing there was an electrical problem in the primary side of the ignition system, specifically within the replacement distributor e.g., shorted wire, ungrounded breaker plate, defective points or condenser.

Good luck and please keep us posted.

 

Has anyone had any luck with a cardone distributor? I recently had one put in and ran great for about 30 miles and then not so good. Starts, but runs super rough. Comments appreciated.

 

Most likely the condenser failed. I used to work at a tune-up shop and the condensers would occasionally fail. You should keep your original distributor and keep it original. I would convert the Cardone unit with a Pertronics unit, as long as it does not have any damage. You will appreciate how well the engine will run. I converted mine to HEI years ago and it was a vast improvement. Very reliable also. I have also rebuilt another engine and converted it to a roller cam and I used a new Davis Unified Ignition distributor with a Dick Miller racing melanized gear. Good luck and take care.

 

Do not use a Cardone "rebuilt" distributor period. COMPLETE JUNK! The poorly crimped and not soldered spade lug on the wire to the coil came apart. OK....fixed this small problem and still wont run. The NEW condenser was NFG!. PLEASE stay far away from Cardone distributors. I can't make it any more clear!

 

She's finally back home! They were able to get the crap Cardone distributor out and clean up and rebuild the original and free the seized advance. They put the original back in and adjusted the carb and she runs great. You guys were right about the Cardone rebuild. Funny side story, I took my Dad's GM Master Technician Patch I kept in her as a good luck charm out when I dropped her off a month ago. I put it back in on Saturday and they were able to get the Cardone out finally on Wednesday. Maybe I should keep that in there.

 

I discovered Sugar Bear was right today. She seemed louder and raspier and then I realized a lot of exhaust was coming out ahead of the rear wheels. The backfire must have damaged the muffler, it looks like a swollen tick! I'm going to get a new exhaust this week.