distributor problems
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,026
Likes: 0
From: Renton, WA
i just went back to a parts store and got yet another distributor since the old left me stranded the other day. but i attempted to replace it becuz it was missing every now and then and i had replaced plugs, wires, cap and rotor already and cant think of what else that it could have been to cause it to miss not on a regular basis but pretty bad at higher rpms. but i do have a rebuilt that i just put in a few minutes ago and it is running. but has a slight tapping sound. idk what it is. maybe slight timing issue?? if i get a timing light, what would i need to do after i figure out if #1 is in fact getting the spark as it should? also how do you set the proper ignition advance?
You clamp the light on the #1 wire, it will flash everytime the #1 plug fires. when it flashes if you point it at the balancer it will allow you to see the percise placement if the balancer when the #1 plug fires which will allow you to set the timing.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,118
Likes: 149
From: South Dakota
You need to get a timing light as suggested. Unhook the spout connecter(very important) look for the timing specs as suggested, if you can't find them most trucks of this vintage are 10 degrees before top dead center. Mark the 10 degrees or whatever on the harmonic balancer with white chalk and look for the pointer to line up with. Hook up your timing light to the front spark plug wire and the battery. Start the engine and turn the distributor until the chalk mark you made lines up with the pointer. Tighten the distributor bolt and recheck the marks and rehook the spout connecter.
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New User
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
i now have the motor running smoothly. but now it purrs perfectly then after around a minute or so, give or take some time, it sounds as if it wants to die. could it possibly just be an O2 sensor or a clogged stock cat converter??
pedant
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 23,576
Likes: 38
From: EXTREME southwest CT
It may be a worn distributor, it may be that your coil is breaking down...
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,026
Likes: 0
From: Renton, WA
A minute or so of just idleing? Will it come to life if you give it some throttle? Have you timed it yet?
Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Uhh, I know it sounds simple but are your cables in the correct order? The reason your truck runs a while real bad is because its fludding.
#2 these distributors are have electronic timing right? so check your leads to the distributor
#2 these distributors are have electronic timing right? so check your leads to the distributor
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New User
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
i never took the cables off of the cap so i couldnt mix them up. ive just been working around it when i was changin the distributor but even when u open it up a bit it still has the same problem with sounding like its just not firing or somethin. i honestly have no idea. ive had a friend with the same truck have it bog because of an O2 sensor is y i was curious about that.. but i do not have access to a timing light as of now but im not sure but as smooth as it sounds at idle it cant b too far off where it should be timing wise. is it a possibility that something in the exhaust is causing it to do that at all? could it just be as simple as the coil going bad? nearly everything on the truck is original after all...
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,026
Likes: 0
From: Renton, WA
i never took the cables off of the cap so i couldnt mix them up. ive just been working around it when i was changin the distributor but even when u open it up a bit it still has the same problem with sounding like its just not firing or somethin. i honestly have no idea. ive had a friend with the same truck have it bog because of an O2 sensor is y i was curious about that.. but i do not have access to a timing light as of now but im not sure but as smooth as it sounds at idle it cant b too far off where it should be timing wise. is it a possibility that something in the exhaust is causing it to do that at all? could it just be as simple as the coil going bad? nearly everything on the truck is original after all...
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New User
Joined: Dec 2008
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im tryin to find a timing light today. but could the timing be the cause of the motor sounding as if it wants to die? could putting a new distributor in cause the real problem to come out? possibly something else?? but i am getting a timing light first
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