The dreaded stuck distributor.
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Tuned
Joined: Jul 2004
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The dreaded stuck distributor.
Not too long ago there was a thread about someones distributor being stuck. Most of the advice centered around the contact between the distributor and the engine being fused somewhat.
I have a different situation. Sometimes my dissy will move very easily and sometimes just not at all. I am guessing that I need to buy a new one as it seems to have some king of internal lock-up. Any help would be greatly appreciated. It is an 74 F250 390
I have a different situation. Sometimes my dissy will move very easily and sometimes just not at all. I am guessing that I need to buy a new one as it seems to have some king of internal lock-up. Any help would be greatly appreciated. It is an 74 F250 390
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Oregon
You're talking about the body of the dizzy not moving? Is there any difference in movement when the engine is hot compared to cold?
If you pull it out and the contact area between the dizzy and the motor isn't really warped, and it still has the rubber o-ring at the top, you might try just greasing the whole gear and shaft, and apply a good coat of anti-seize to the upper part where it touches the block.
And why answer your own question? 
If you pull it out and the contact area between the dizzy and the motor isn't really warped, and it still has the rubber o-ring at the top, you might try just greasing the whole gear and shaft, and apply a good coat of anti-seize to the upper part where it touches the block.
Originally Posted by Mr. G
I guess I would say you need to buy a new distributor.
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
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As long as aluminum will be touching cast or other aluminum mixed with water,oil,etc you will have corrosion problems.
Go to a marine shop and buy some of this and never look back
http://www.corrosion-control.com/corrblock.html
Go to a marine shop and buy some of this and never look back
http://www.corrosion-control.com/corrblock.html
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Jul 2004
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Thanks for the replies. I found out that when the motor is cold it moves fine but when it heats up it gets stuck. Never hear of such a thing. Of course this keeps me from setting the timing when up to temp. I will have to see what the difference is when it cools down. By the way I answered my question because nobody had replied and my question was relegated to page three so answering it myself moved it to page one.
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With this being an FE, a tedious fix would be to loosen the intake and either move it forward or backward to line up the distributor better. Cracking the seal on the intake might lead to needing new gaskets though, that's why I say tedious.
It isn't corrosion causing your problem, it's the manifold.
Josh
It isn't corrosion causing your problem, it's the manifold.
Josh
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Tuned
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Yea that intake weighs almost as much as my wife! I think I will just adjust the timing while it is cold until the day comes when I HAVE to tear into it.
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From: Oregon
Originally Posted by Mr. G
Thanks for the replies. I found out that when the motor is cold it moves fine but when it heats up it gets stuck.
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From: Long Island USA
Actually, when you're talking round things in a round hole, heating them up makes them come loose. Inner round thing doesn't expand as much as outer round thing 
Sounds more like the intake is off-center (front-to-back) and when it heats up and expands, pushes against the distributor.
Anti-sieze might help though, can't hurt. Just don't get any INSIDE the motor.
Sounds more like the intake is off-center (front-to-back) and when it heats up and expands, pushes against the distributor.
Anti-sieze might help though, can't hurt. Just don't get any INSIDE the motor.
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From: Oregon
Originally Posted by krewat
Actually, when you're talking round things in a round hole, heating them up makes them come loose. Inner round thing doesn't expand as much as outer round thing
Well, learn something new every day. Thanks.
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From: Long Island USA
Originally Posted by ihateminimumwage
Now don't I feel dumb. Well, learn something new every day. Thanks.
Well, learn something new every day. Thanks.It took a machinist to explain it to me - it wasn't intuitive for me either. But it made sense after he explained it.
Of course, with different metals, they expand at different rates, too... so sometimes it doesn't work out that the inner piece gets loose. But aluminum and cast iron are close enough - otherwise, pistons would get stuck in the cylinders.
However, when an engine heats up, the piston doesn't get as big as the cylinder, so the clearance goes up as everything heats up.
Anyway...
