I may have a unique problem, but I opened up the cap to clean things up an reset the points (first time on this engine, it ran so I didn’t bother) and the eccentric adjustment screw is broken off. Is there a repair part or a cheat repair. Was able to adjust the points but not with the way it was meant. No big deal but wondering if someone else has run across this.
Larry Old man᠁Old truck᠁neither one goes very fast. All you need in life is TIME, PATIENCE and MONEY. If you are missing one component, you'll need an abundance of the others two.
The best bet would be to replace the entire breaker plate, which is attached with four machine screws through the distributor housing into threaded tabs on the plate. Plenty of "core" distributors with suitable breaker plates can be found on Ebay for reasonable prices, as that design fits engines for many years of production. A "parts wanted" ad in the swap meet might even score you a freebie! Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
Thanks Jerry, just thought there might be an easy fix. Took the plate out and it shines up nice. Looks like it was a brass stub pinned on the back. It popped right out.
Larry Old man᠁Old truck᠁neither one goes very fast. All you need in life is TIME, PATIENCE and MONEY. If you are missing one component, you'll need an abundance of the others two.
It would be tedious work, but it would be possible to make that eccentric adjuster from a pan head machine screw chucked into a drill press, and do some careful filing to create the offset to move the ground point bracket. You would need to file or grind the threads off the screw so it's a snug fit in the hole in the breaker plate, file the eccentric on the screw head by hand, and peen the screw shank to the back of the breaker plate once the eccentric is shaped correctly. That's sort of "Gunsmithing 101"- - - -hand-filing bits and pieces for antique gun repairs involving scarce or nonexistent parts. Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
It could also be done on a small metalworking lathe and a 4 jaw chuck. Turn a brass rod the OD of the screw head, offset the 2 of the jaws, turn the pin diameter and length, then part off the head. Once parted off, use a hacksaw blade to make the screw slot.
The biggest issue is determining the offset.
Last edited by Phak1; 09/23/202411:52 AM.
Phil Moderator, The Engine Shop, Interiors and Project Journals
1952 Chevrolet 3100, Three on the Tree, 4:11 torque tube Updated to: ‘59 235 w/hydraulic lifters, 12v w/alternator, HEI, PCV and Power front Disc Brakes Project Journals Stovebolt Gallery Forum
Fortunately, the actual offset isn't set in stone- - - -just create enough of an eccentric to move the grounded point a few thousandths to adjust the gap before locking down the retaining screw. Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
Or, just buy a donor dizzy and swap the parts. Seems like the easiest thing to do.
1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy)
1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe |1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1969 Pontiac GTO (The Dishpit) I 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
