The other day my points in my 68' 442 broke. Stupid me decided to pull the distributor that has been in there for 40 years. Not a good move!! Well I snaped it, so I had to get a new one. I picked one up at a local auto store. I put it in and timed it to TDC (that what my book says) Well the car starts and idles great. It also drive good. My problem is when I"m driving and put a quick load on the car It pings. (only for a little while then it goes away) I didn't have this problem before. Do you think it's just because it's a crappy distributor. What do you think I should do.

Thanks, Dan

 

Too much advance in the vacuum advance diaphram? I don't know if they are different for different models (probably are) but if they are then you may have a generic one fits all Oldsmobiles type distributor advance diaphram. Try retarding your initial just a little and see if it helps out without affecting your idle quality.

 

Dan,

Thanks. Should I put my original vac. advance in?

 

First things first. Your 68 is sweet!
Now to the reason for this reply. This system uses two mechanisms to advance the timing. It, as you are already know uses vacuum. It also uses springs and weights. What I would do is to replace your vacuum diaphragm with your original one. If you decide to keep the new diaphragm, check and see if it is adjustable as it might be pulling in too much advance. I would also replace the springs and weights with the ones on your old distributor. Its is possible the the springs are to light as well as the weights might be too heavy. If this is the case this would cause your timing to come in to early.

 

How long is "a little while"?

Norm

 

First off, Thanks every one for there help. I'm going to swap out the vac advance first and see what that gets me. If it doesn't work I will then change out the springs and weights. I have never done this before How hard is this to do? I'm guessing I should do this with the distributor out of the car.

Norm, I just pings when I'm heavy into the throttle then it seems like it catches up with it's self and goes away.

Cowtown, Thanks

 

I swaped out the vac. advance and the weights and springs and that worked. I am back in business. Thanks for everyones help.

The number on my original vac. advance unit was 408 24
The number on the new one that I bought was 436 20

Does anyone know what these numbers are?

Dan

 

Glad to see that swapping out the parts worked. I would venture to say that the numbers are just a part number.