06-15-2022, 10:49 AM | #1 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: georgia
Posts: 39
|
points firing
i am not getting spark out of distributor on 59a engine.
i want to clean and file distributor points . It appears the distributor must be removed to do this due to accessability on front of engine. There is very little space due to radiator. Can the distributor be removed without removing radiator? If bolts are removed will it slide out? Please help. |
06-15-2022, 01:11 PM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: sw minnesota
Posts: 4,592
|
Re: points firing
Yes, the only way to work on the crab style dizzy is to remove it. only 2 bolts, remove the cap and there will be room to get it out. On reinstalling, the drive tang is offset so it only fits one way, no timing necessary, make sure it sits flat and flush before you tighten up the bolts
|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|
06-15-2022, 01:22 PM | #3 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: East Shore of LAKE HOUSTON
Posts: 11,120
|
Re: points firing
Quote:
Good advice from "cas3" above. You MUST move distributor FORWARD 1/4" or so to dis-engage the drive tang. Then you can slide it out the side. Coop/AMERICAN . |
|
06-15-2022, 01:46 PM | #4 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Williamsburg, VA
Posts: 1,632
|
Re: points firing
Quote:
If, when the points are open, the voltage on the distributor side of the coil is lower than the battery side of the coil, you have a leaky condenser. Disconnect the condenser from the distributor terminal and see if you then get spark when cranking. If so, replace the condenser. |
|
06-15-2022, 02:05 PM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Southern Illinois
Posts: 3,817
|
Re: points firing
If it is in fact the distributor, send the distributor to Michael Driskell at Third Gen Automotive for a professional tune up.
|
06-15-2022, 06:03 PM | #6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: 36 miles north of Albany NY
Posts: 2,957
|
Re: points firing
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
|
06-15-2022, 07:44 PM | #7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Williamsburg, VA
Posts: 1,632
|
Re: points firing
With great respect to our excellent distributor rebuilders, I am going to encourage our junior member Benji to try figure this out on his own first. Because when something goes wrong on the road (it probably will at some point) he knows enough about the ignition system to do the farmer fix needed to get home.
|
06-16-2022, 05:48 AM | #8 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: georgia
Posts: 39
|
Re: points firing
After unclipping the side clip wires, the side caps are stuck. How are these removed ?
|
06-16-2022, 07:04 AM | #9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: NJ
Posts: 6,198
|
Re: points firing
Do you have a crab-type or a football helmet type of distributor. Crab would have two bolts holding it on, football type three?
When you say side wires, it is making me think you have a football style distributor. |
06-16-2022, 07:19 AM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Central Ohio
Posts: 5,110
|
Re: points firing
Something very important to know: The end of the cam has a SLOT in it that the tang on the distributor slides into. The slot/tang are offset from the centerline only 1/16 of an inch.
The reason it is offset is so that the distributor drive is always mounted in the same way - you can take the distributor on/off and not influence the timing. BUT, it is very easy to have the distributor rotated 180 degrees OFF from where it should be - then you think it is close to fitting (so you force it on) and you try to somehow get the bolts back in their holes. Make sure the orientation is correct - or you'll ruin the distributor and the engine will not run. You might even succeed in wrenching the bolts in . . . which will crack the distributor housing when you tighten them - or when you turn the engine over. Lastly, there is a gasket that goes underneath the distributor - you'll need a new one. It is important that you clean the timing cover and back of the distributor well. I'd use a little thin gasket sealer on the gasket (like Gasgacinch - from Edelbrock or Jegs) - but don't clog the vacuum transfer hole. You need the gasket to seal the vacuum port, but not obstruct it. If you're not familiar with these distributors (which it sounds like), you can learn a bit in this process (if you understand distributors in general). If you want to really get it setup properly, send it to either of the two guys mentioned earlier - they know what they're doing and have the necessary distributor machine to really set it up correctly. Best of luck! |
06-16-2022, 08:54 AM | #11 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: georgia
Posts: 39
|
Re: points firing
I have the football helment type that has dome caps on each side held on by wire clips. After removing the clips, the dome caps are stuck. Do these caps screw off or do you pry them off with screwdriver or tap them loose? I am being careful since I do not know.
i |
06-16-2022, 09:08 AM | #12 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: NJ
Posts: 6,198
|
Re: points firing
Just wiggle them a bit. Should come off afterward.
|
06-16-2022, 09:50 AM | #13 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 16,467
|
Re: points firing
A person should pull the distributor off periodically just to inspect all the parts in there, The vacuum brake leather pad, the advance/retard flyweights, the rotor bushing, and of course the points & plastic parts all need to be maintained in good working order.
|
06-16-2022, 03:08 PM | #14 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: georgia
Posts: 39
|
Re: points firing
I have ordered most parts from MAX in the past, now they have very little as compared. Where to buy gasket? Max or Bob Drake or NAPA do not have gasket. Where can I find?
|
06-16-2022, 03:17 PM | #15 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Jacksonville FL
Posts: 3,984
|
Re: points firing
Quote:
The caps, IF you look, have a little square tang on them for alignment purposes so make sure you line them up when re installing, I cannot stress enough and it has been pointed out here a few times, MAKE DOUBLE sure you align the distributor offset key to the cam correctly. This is made easier IF you get a couple of 5/16-18 x 1" or so NC Bolts and cut the heads off of them. Screw them in the block BEFORE you attempt to put the distributor back on. THEN slide the distributor onto the studs you thread in, then you can use your thumbs on each side of the distributor to rotate the rotor and line the keyway up with the end of the cam shaft. put some light pressure against the distributor and rotate the rotor and you will feel it click in!!! ONCE you feel it click in, you can try and move the rotor and it should NOT turn!!! THEN you remove one stud at a time and replace with the correct bolt. AS a third check, once I have it installed and before I re-intall the caps, I put the car in first and have someone rock the car back and forth and watch the rotor (or put your finger in there and feel), you should see (or feel) it move back and forth, then I know 100% its on and lined up correctly BEFORE I try and fire it up!!!! Then re-install the caps!!!! BELIEVE me you don't what to try and start the car and hear a loud "crack"!!!! Last edited by rockfla; 06-16-2022 at 03:29 PM. |
|
06-16-2022, 03:31 PM | #16 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Jacksonville FL
Posts: 3,984
|
Re: points firing
These are the alignment studs I made just for this job!!!! I have since knurled the ends to make it easier to thread in and out.
|
06-16-2022, 04:04 PM | #17 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Above the gnat line in Georgia
Posts: 7,009
|
Re: points firing
Better still is to just install studs into block and leave it there and tighten it up with a nut. My 2¢. Still a PITA no matter how you do it.
__________________
Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer to the end, the faster it goes. It is better to be seen, than viewed. "We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm". |
06-16-2022, 06:20 PM | #18 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Shelton, WA
Posts: 3,807
|
Re: points firing
If the vehicle you are trouble shooting has an ammeter instead of a voltmeter, when the engine is being turned over the needle will wiggle. If the needle doesn't move, then oxidation on the points is probably the problem. You can fix that without filing the points by using some strips of doubled over 1000 grit wet/dry paper.
Once you get one side cap off with the inner cap attached of the "helmet" type (32-41) distributor an 8" piece of wooden dowel will allow you to tap the other side off. They fit tight to keep moisture out. Always use new gaskets in all those places. |
06-17-2022, 11:32 AM | #19 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: georgia
Posts: 39
|
Re: points firing
[IMG][/IMG]
|
06-17-2022, 01:19 PM | #20 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: East Shore of LAKE HOUSTON
Posts: 11,120
|
Re: points firing
Quote:
TOP Picture Shows PROPER Alignment! BOTTOM Pic Shows 180º Out of Alignment! |
|
|
|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|