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distributor shaft wobble?

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Old Oct 14, 2021 | 06:54 AM
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ford highboy!'s Avatar
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distributor shaft wobble?

so i just bought another y block and i'm trying to get it running. When i took the distributor cap off i noticed that the shaft on the distributor could move about a 16th of an inch from side to side, is this bad? will it keep the engine from running right? and the distributor is seized into the block so i can't adjust the timing. how should i get it out? thanks!
 
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Old Oct 14, 2021 | 11:41 AM
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f5fordgirl
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That much movement will mess up the point gap, from nothing to way too much gap, use plenty of PB blaster or whatever you like, light tapping in a turning motion both ways, and patiance.
 
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Old Nov 2, 2021 | 07:32 AM
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so i was able to get the old distributor out and a new one in and got it running then i started converting it for use in my truck i took the flywheel off and it turns out it might be a 312 Of course i'm an idiot and forgot to check the main caps when i had the oil pan off
 
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Old Nov 2, 2021 | 08:05 AM
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hiball3985
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Originally Posted by ford highboy!
so i was able to get the old distributor out and a new one in and got it running then i started converting it for use in my truck i took the flywheel off and it turns out it might be a 312 Of course i'm an idiot and forgot to check the main caps when i had the oil pan off
When you say new one, what did you get?
 
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Old Nov 2, 2021 | 09:36 AM
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the distributor is out of a 1957 272 that i had laying around. it seems to work fine for this engine but when i finish rebuilding my other y block that one is going to get a pertronix billet distributor
 
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Old Nov 2, 2021 | 11:20 AM
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hiball3985
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OK thanks. I always keep me eyes open to options should I need one in the future. Both of my Y's have 1962 distributors. Is your 57 distributor an original with the ball bearing breaker plate?
 
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Old Nov 2, 2021 | 12:00 PM
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i have no idea, all i know is it had points in it i cleaned them up and now the engine runs it's going in my truck later today
 
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Old Nov 3, 2021 | 08:18 AM
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hiball3985
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Originally Posted by ford highboy!
i have no idea, all i know is it had points in it i cleaned them up and now the engine runs it's going in my truck later today
My reply is probably to late now but it would be easier to check the advance plate is working freely before installing the engine. The ball bearing plates are usually problematic when this old.
 
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Old Nov 3, 2021 | 09:20 AM
  #9  
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Originally Posted by hiball3985
My reply is probably to late now but it would be easier to check the advance plate is working freely before installing the engine. The ball bearing plates are usually problematic when this old.
I did make sure the vacuum advance worked before i installed the distributor (it tasted terrible)
 
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Old Nov 3, 2021 | 12:39 PM
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Originally Posted by ford highboy!
I did make sure the vacuum advance worked before i installed the distributor (it tasted terrible)
X2, not my favorite flavor either.
 
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