I've been having an issue with the distributor on my 1982 Bronco, reman 351w. I've only had this thing two months or so, but twice while working on it I've bumped the distributor apparently and the piece below the cap (adapter? I'm not sure what it's called.) That the cap clips to has come unseated. I'll go to start it and it'll miss like crazy. Look under the hood and the thing isn't seated down properly. I'll fix it and end up having to set the ignition timing again. Well the second time it happened I had the distributor turned as far as it would go and couldn't even get it to 0° btdc. I turned it back and forth some and managed to somehow get the top of the distributor to turn on top of the base and get it back enough to be able to get the timing set. It's hard to describe, but in the pic I'm attaching the arrow us pointing to the #1 spark plug lead. That lead used to be at like the 11 o'clock position, but now its turned to the 1 o'clock. I'm new to these old fords, but what would allow the cap to end up turned like that? It can only clip on in one position. I replaced the rotor today because the plastic tab was about worn off that keeps it aligned. I can't turn the rotor far by hand so I would think the distributor isn't stripped.

basically the top of my distributor has managed to turn clockwise and it's all screwy

edit: I just had a thought that may help, I've noticed since I had this thing that the tech seems off. At idle it seems accurate but as soon as you hit the gas it's like it immediately jumps up over 500 rpm. I know you lose 300 rpm in the TC since it's an old c6, but it'll say 3600 RPM at 62 mph with 3.73 gears. Is the tach driven from the distributor?

 

Sounds like something is broken, the lower distributor bowl should be bolted to or cast part of the distributor shaft.. no way that should move.

 

sounds like you need a new distributor. be sure you have the motor at TDC on the #1cyl and mark the dizzy so you can use that as a reference when you stab the new one

Also the number 1 wire should not be going towards the driver side of the motor. number 1 cylinder is on the front passenger side. you should also use wire loom separators on the cables to keep them from touching and causing the spark to jump across.

 

that's what I was trying to say, my #1 on the dizzy cap started out on the passengers side, but has somehow rotated clockwise to where it is now even though the distributor itself hasn't turned. Looking at it I couldn't figure out how it happened though, because because the cap can only clip on one way, and the piece under it also only clips down one way.

I'm probably going to let my mechanic look at it and see if it needs replaced and let him do it if so.

 

Before and after it moves photos would help.....

 

Well it's a bit late now because i have it removed to change a blown head gasket (yippeee). I might have a pic of th engine bay from before if I can find one, I'll post it

 

now would be a great time to install a new dizzy.