Distributor Question.

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Dec 11, 2000 | 08:18 PM

carp

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Distributor Question.

I have a fresh 400 with a 208 speed pro cam. It has a uneven fire at idle. About 1200 - 1700 it want to shake (free rev). I had a carter AFB 625 at first, then went to a holley 600 vac sec. It helped some. A local speed shop told me that he thinks it is the dist. That the fords had a flaw in there design. There is only one bearing in them and it sometimes wears funny causing the signal to be inacurate. One cylinder could be 10 btdc one may be 2 btdc causing the uneven idle and shake. Has anyone heard of this or is this guy trying to sell me a dist? Thank for any help.

Dec 12, 2000 | 12:27 AM

franklin

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Joined: Nov 2000

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Distributor Question.

If the bearings are bad in the distributor you can check this
by grabbing the rotor and shaking it back and forth. You
have a classic problem that everybody has run into when
working on vehicles. It's just not running right! You will
have to find the problem by elimination. You can go to the
junk yard and get a distributor from a 351c,351m,400,or 460.
You might have a vacuum leak etc. Be patient and you will find
the problem.

Dec 17, 2000 | 11:42 AM

carp

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Distributor Question.

How much play sould there be. Little, no, or what?

Thanks

Dec 18, 2000 | 02:54 AM

fordmando

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Joined: Jun 1999

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From: Greenville USA

Distributor Question.

A rebuilt one from the Zone is less than $50 (I think its like $34.99 with an exchange.) Hard to beat that considering most yards want at least $20 for a distributor.

fordmando
78 F-150 4x4 400 4 on floor
86 Nissan 300ZX
George

Dec 19, 2000 | 12:24 AM

400HP794x4

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Joined: Apr 2000

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Distributor Question.

Mallory Unilite $170
you want one anyway

Dec 20, 2000 | 04:02 AM

tall1

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Distributor Question.

There should very little side play if any in the dist shaft. If you have a timing light put it on the engine and see if the timing jumps around or if it is steady and moves smoothly when you rev it up. My say is that you got a vacuum leak. Check around the carb and egr/breather plates. make sure the gaskets and plates seal well and dont let exhaust or air in. Carefully spray some carb cleaner around the base of the carb, if you notice a change in the rpm and or smoothness you have found your leak. Also disconnect the vacuum lines and plug them to see if the engine smoothes out, includung the brake booster. I would also double check the firing order and the spark plug wires to see if they are on in the correct order.

'79 F150 Stepside 4x4
351C-2V, 4 speed, 32/11.50 BFG MT's
'73 Mustang Grande
351C-2V, c-6

Dec 22, 2000 | 10:12 AM

carp

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Distributor Question.

I may have been a little veg. It is nothing harsh. You can watch the timing light move around at idle, but it's not an actual miss. When the temp is below 40 degrees out it runs pretty smooth. It is nothing serious, but it is one of those things, you put alot of money in and it's not what you expect.

How are the after market ignitions, and are they worth the money?
Will the Unilite work with any af them?

Thanks, I haven't been able to check the suggestions yet. But I will.