Good news: we have finally started the truck and even drove it around for a while. Saturday was wonderful.

Truck: '37 1/2T
Engine: '51 car block

Bad News: Since loosening the screw to set the timing correctly (and cleaning all of the grease off and from around the distributor and octane selector) the timing is jumping around quite a bit. If I reset the timing it starts and runs just fine for up to 5 minutes, then it dies out and will not restart. I turn the engine back "on ball" and open the cap and the rotor is not at #1 any longer.

I do have some play in that the distributor moves around a little bit, but it doesn't seem like enough to cause this problem. Is there anything else I should be looking at?

I understand that there is a brass bushing that wears and causes the wobble, which bushing is it? How big should it be? Is a rebuild something I can do?

Who are the reputable rebuilders around?

I do have another distributor from another 216. I may try it tomorrow. I would like to be able to "check out" the spare before I put it in.

Any help would be great.

~Justin

1937 Chevy 1/2-ton
"Wylburr Clyde"
In the Stovebolt Gallery
More pictures on Google

My Grandfather bought it new and Dad drove it through highschool. The 3rd & 4th generations put it back on the road on 8/8/2015!