The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop rotor coming loose

I have had the rotor get loose inside the distributor twice now, causing really loud noises to emanate from the exhaust, and causing a bit of concern as to how to get out of the traffic without getting hit with no engine to help me along. has anyone else have this happen? Maybe I have the wrong rotor/distributor cap? Is there any available that lock on?

It sounds like you have a 216 distributor with a 235 rotor.
The 235 rotor just barely catches the line up tang.

that's why I'm glad you're here Dave. That is exactly what is going on. Just how many variations are there anyway? I know there is a short cap and rotor, and a tall cap and rotor. THIS little development is news to me. Maybe I'll go to Napa today...

The tall cap and rotor started in 1953 on the 235, the 216 still used the short cap and rotor.
The short cap and rotor was used from 1933-53(except 1953 235)
The tall cap and rotor was used from 1953-63(except 216)

so I went and got the short rotor, and that was indeed the problem with it fitting over the shaft. However I apparently have a later model distributor, as the hold down clips are lower on the distributor body, and won't clip onto the short distributor cap without lowering the clippy downy spot on the cap 1/8"
, this is also when I discovered my dremel tool had developed some issue with the chuck at some point between now and the last time I had used it, causing the burr I was using to get all crooked and try valiantly to destroy my cap. I still don't know if the cap and rotor will work with the distributor. (I had to come eat something...)a 3 minute job is turning into a probably 3 week $200 project.

??????? Why don't you just use the correct cap and rotor for the
distributor that your using? If the clips are incorrect, then
find the correct clips for that distributor. Should be lots of
cadavers around if you start asking.

If it's worth doing....then it's worth doing right.

dg

if I knew what the correct one was I would, I thought I had it, then it turns out I didn't had it. The correct rotor, doesn't go with the cap, the right cap doesn't go with the rotor. I changed the clips from the distributor that may have come out of the original engine, (I have a couple of engines laying around, I don't remember which one the distributor came out of) I will find the correct pieces eventually, but ain't doing me any good today, which is when I want to use it. No one said anything about the clips being 1/8" of an inch lower, I'm still trying to figure that part out.

so I looked further, it seems I have a 1112396 distributor, which pans out to be a 54 powerglide distributor, which would make it a 235, however the shaft is a 216, (or at least that is what rotor fits) so I have some combination that won't work, no matter which way you go. I guess that is what happens when you buy remanufactured items. now I am really confused, the breaker plate says 1112396, the distributor body reads 1112414. I can't seem to find a listing of numbers vs year/application.

List of distributor numbers.
Pictures of the two distributor styles.

Dave, the link for the pictures doesn't work. It sure looks like I have the body for a 235 distributor with the shaft out of a 216 installed inside. This is very frustrating.

Try the link now.

yep that's what is going on...Guess I'll need to make a phone call Monday.