Question about distributor

[47heaven]

I took the Plymouth to the mechanic to see why it was missing. I thought that maybe it could have been the carb again, but as he was listening to it, he saw the distributor moving up and down slightly. He said that the distributor could be slightly bent or warn, which is causing the points to be off, which is causing the car to miss.

I guess my question is does this mean that the distributor is history? Can it be repaired or do I have to put in a new one? Though my Ply is a '47, the engin is a 230, but the distributor is a '47 because the '55 points didn't fit it when we changed them the first time. So, I had to get '47 points.

Are there new distributors for the 230 engine or is this an Ebay item? I know one thing though....the points are going to be replaced by Pertonics once I get the new or used distributor.

[randroid]

There are axial thrusts imposed upon the ends of the bushings that will, over time, wear and allow unaccepted lash in the rotor shaft. I have never needed to replace the bushings but have read about it and it seems to be a fairly cut-and-dried job. Set the engine to TDC #1 cylinder and yank the disty then measure the slop. I would think that at worst you'll need to have the bushings replaced, and that won't be too dear.

While you're in there, there's a wire from the innards of the disty to the base plate for the points, and I needed to replace the one on mine. It's easy and a few inches long and something less to be cincerned about.

-Randy

[Don Coatney]

I took the Plymouth to the mechanic to see why it was missing.

I guess my question is does this mean that the distributor is history? Can it be repaired or do I have to put in a new one? .

What advice did your mechanic give you?

[47heaven]

What advice did your mechanic give you?

He told me to come back and see him in two weeks because he's backlogged with work until then, but most likely I will find another way to get it fixed because I'm a "get on it right away" person.

[47heaven]

There are axial thrusts imposed upon the ends of the bushings that will, over time, wear and allow unaccepted lash in the rotor shaft. I have never needed to replace the bushings but have read about it and it seems to be a fairly cut-and-dried job. Set the engine to TDC #1 cylinder and yank the disty then measure the slop. I would think that at worst you'll need to have the bushings replaced, and that won't be too dear.

While you're in there, there's a wire from the innards of the disty to the base plate for the points, and I needed to replace the one on mine. It's easy and a few inches long and something less to be cincerned about.

-Randy

Thanks, Randy. I'll copy your info and take to my friend to help us out when we take it out. Hopefully, it's only just a worn bushing problem.

[blueskies]

the points are going to be replaced by Pertonics once I get the new or used distributor.

If you are going to go to the expense of replacing the distributor, and then buying a pertronics kit, you would probably be money ahead to just buy Langdon's mini GM HEI and be done with it. $180, and is a drop in swap.

One caveat, you must be running a 12v negative ground system...

Pete

[jd52cranbrook]

I have two distributors that I am not using, both ran. I changed over to HEI. Make me a fair offer and their, or one is yours......

[Guest Flyer45er]

I concur with ranroid; it may need new bushings. Ther is one other thing to keep in mind, though. I once had a troublesome occasional miss in a Roots engine (Sunbeam Talbot), and a knowledgeable old mechanic took the dist plate out and peaned the hole a bit smaller (where the dist shaft goes through) with a hammer, then sized it with a bit of carbide paper. The engine ran smooth from then on.

-Tony