>> Where did I screw up?? The engine won't start.
I retarded the timing on my '54 from 24-deg advanced to 4-deg advanced before I installed the new points. Engine ran well. Maybe not quite as peppy as before.
I installed new points @ .019" gap, new condenser, and new rotor. Lubed the points cam. Dusted the inside of the cap. Returned all plug wires to the original ports on the cap. Installed the cap in the same position as when I removed it. Now the engine won't start. Turns over easily but no hint of even trying to fire. Probably a rookie mistake. Could I have gotten the distrib or cap 180-deg out of sync? Don't know where to start looking.
When it didn't start with the new points, I turned the distributor a little counter-clockwise to advance the timing a little. I thought that maybe the previous 24-deg advance was because of the old worn points, and that now the timing was retarded almost 24-deg with the new ponts. The spring arm on the old points bent easily when I removed them. No change.
Possible problem(?) The distributor does not have an insulator on the outside where the coil connects to the points and condenser. A cork and a fiber washer insulate the distrib on the outside. I believe that the extention on inside insulator through the hole in the distributor case prevents the connecting screw from contacting the case.
> Outside insulator shown in Shop Manual pic> No outside insulator on my distributor picJerry, Steve, and pfarber - Thanks for your help. I can turn the rotor an eighth inch clockwise at the most. The distributor raises up a little when I turn the rotor. Rotor springs back into original position when released.
I want to get it started. Then I can start checking the performance of the advance mechanisms.
Thanks for any suggestions that you can give to me.
- Lonnie
