T120 Posted May 29, 2014 Report Posted May 29, 2014 (edited) Goes without saying,Don's specs,( post 9) are spot on.....Keep in mind distributor RPM are 1/2 engine RPM. Edited May 30, 2014 by Ralph D25cpe Quote
Patrick Posted June 20, 2014 Author Report Posted June 20, 2014 Okay I've replaced the vacuum advance and rebuilt the inside of the distributor. I reinstalled it and the truck is difficult to start but it did start and idle and I was able to rev it up. However, there is an intermittent backfire. I've played with the timing back and forth to no avail. Is there a trick to timing it or is there something else I should be checking? Quote
Don Coatney Posted June 20, 2014 Report Posted June 20, 2014 Are all your plug wires installed correctly? Sounds as if you may have a couple wires crossed. Quote
Patrick Posted June 20, 2014 Author Report Posted June 20, 2014 I believe the order is correct 153624. Is there a good diagram for it? The service manual has one that I went by but it isn't very easy to decifer. Quote
Don Coatney Posted June 20, 2014 Report Posted June 20, 2014 If you are convinced you have all wires plugged in to the distributor cap in order and going to the plugs in the correct order then disregard my posting even though from your description it sounds like that could be a problem. It takes less than a minute to double check. Quote
Patrick Posted June 20, 2014 Author Report Posted June 20, 2014 If you are convinced you have all wires plugged in to the distributor cap in order and going to the plugs in the correct order then disregard my posting even though from your description it sounds like that could be a problem. It takes less than a minute to double check. I'm definitely going to check, just haven't been back out there yet. I think the order I have the plugs is correct but whether or not they are in the correct spots on the distributor is what I'm unsure of. I just read in another post that number one wire should be at 7 o'clock but going off the diagram in the shop manual it looks like one should be at 8. So I may have it one off. Quote
Jeff Balazs Posted June 20, 2014 Report Posted June 20, 2014 If you are convinced you have all wires plugged in to the distributor cap in order and going to the plugs in the correct order then disregard my posting even though from your description it sounds like that could be a problem. It takes less than a minute to double check. And even if it is all correct........you could easily have a plug that isn't firing. So that would be another thing to check. Hth, Jeff Quote
Don Coatney Posted June 20, 2014 Report Posted June 20, 2014 I'm definitely going to check, just haven't been back out there yet. I think the order I have the plugs is correct but whether or not they are in the correct spots on the distributor is what I'm unsure of. I just read in another post that number one wire should be at 7 o'clock but going off the diagram in the shop manual it looks like one should be at 8. So I may have it one off. If your truck starts and runs it is doubtful you are one off. Find number one in the distributor cap and go clockwise through the firing order to insure each wire is connected to the correct plug. Quote
Don Coatney Posted June 20, 2014 Report Posted June 20, 2014 Hth, Jeff HTH, urban dictionary covers that one Quote
Merle Coggins Posted June 20, 2014 Report Posted June 20, 2014 The only way to properly check your ignition timing is with a timing light. Have you done that yet? Quote
Solution Patrick Posted June 21, 2014 Author Solution Report Posted June 21, 2014 Ok well I got some help today and realized I was misunderstanding the way in which the placement of the plug wires in the distributor went. I had them in the right order but the diagram in the service manual should not be taken literally, 12 o'clock isn't necessarily the same on there as it will be in the truck. This old stuff is all new to this young man! Anyhow, I replaced the plug wires, rotor, and spark plugs just in case and made sure the plug wires were in right and it fired right up. I was able to take it to the Cool Desert Night cruise tonight and it did very well. I think I had the only dodge truck there. The main show is tomorrow and we'll see if there are any others in the 800 or so vehicles registered. Thanks for the advice and patience once again. 1 Quote
Don Coatney Posted June 21, 2014 Report Posted June 21, 2014 Ok well I got some help today and realized I was misunderstanding the way in which the placement of the plug wires in the distributor went. I had them in the right order but the diagram in the service manual should not be taken literally, 12 o'clock isn't necessarily the same on there as it will be in the truck. This old stuff is all new to this young man! Anyhow, I replaced the plug wires, rotor, and spark plugs just in case and made sure the plug wires were in right and it fired right up. I was able to take it to the Cool Desert Night cruise tonight and it did very well. I think I had the only dodge truck there. The main show is tomorrow and we'll see if there are any others in the 800 or so vehicles registered. Thanks for the advice and patience once again. If I understand what you are saying the plug wire placement in the distributor cap was the fix? Quote
Jeff Balazs Posted June 21, 2014 Report Posted June 21, 2014 Glad to hear that it was something simple to fix. Have fun with it. Jeff Quote
Patrick Posted June 21, 2014 Author Report Posted June 21, 2014 If I understand what you are saying the plug wire placement in the distributor cap was the fix? Either that or I had bad plugs or wires or rotor...I replaced them all the same morning. Quote
Don Coatney Posted June 21, 2014 Report Posted June 21, 2014 Either that or I had bad plugs or wires or rotor...I replaced them all the same morning. Glad you got it running. Quote
jhm1mc13 Posted June 24, 2014 Report Posted June 24, 2014 Patrick, I replaced my leaking vacuum advance with a NOS one which also leaked a little which made me buy a rebuilt one that works fine. Moral of the story is old rubber parts are old, go with the rebuilt. Jim Magennis Clover, SC Quote
MikeV Posted May 2, 2017 Report Posted May 2, 2017 Where did you find a rebuilt vacuum advance? Who rebuilds them. I need to replace mine as well. thanks! Quote
JBNeal Posted May 3, 2017 Report Posted May 3, 2017 The last time that I checked, there was a whole section in the Hemmings that listed the diaphragm rebuilding service...I had my distributor rebuilt by Burton L Norton and they rebuilt the vacuum advance, among other things 1 Quote
Merle Coggins Posted May 3, 2017 Report Posted May 3, 2017 Kanter has vac advance units available, with a core charge for your old one. Quote
MikeV Posted May 3, 2017 Report Posted May 3, 2017 thanks for the reply! I'm not familiar with Kanter. is there a website or phone # ? thanks! Quote
MikeV Posted May 3, 2017 Report Posted May 3, 2017 Merle, I found the website and called them. They have a rebuilt VA and I ordered one. THANK YOU so much for your help! Mike Quote
Alex Trujillo Posted March 5, 2019 Report Posted March 5, 2019 Its off the same topic I have 48 custom an was redoing some parts to get it running.I put new carburetor but it doesn't have the connection for the vacuum advance unit. Do I need the vacuum advance unit to turn on my car. I redone gas lines gas, tank ,fuel pump,and redid the spark plug and wires ,and ignition coil but still doenst want to turn over sounds like it does.my next step is to do the timing and hopefully it will start. Sorry bout my writing. Thanks everyone. 1948 Dodge d24 Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.