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| | | | Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 119 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 119 | Today when working on the new truck, I noticed the distributor cap was making small circles while the engine was idling. The dist. hold down bolt was tight. Is this usual to have happening?
Last edited by lightflyer1; 04/07/2010 7:25 AM.
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 154 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 154 | I do not understand. Somthing is wrong. Nothing should be moving except for movement for the vacumn advance. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 4,960 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 4,960 | I would suppose its the whole distributor that is wiggling, not just the cap. That is common on Chev and GMC engines. It doesn't hurt anything, and I don't think there is a fix for it. | | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,107 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,107 | mine does that on fresh rebuilt 59. i figured if its working which it is id leave it alone to do it own thing. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,742 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,742 | You've got a slightly bent distributor shaft. Unless it's changing the timing (ball/pointer jumping around) when you check it with a timing light, don't worry about it. The fix is to dismantle the distributor, set the shaft up in a lathe or a drill press, and straighten it, using a dial indicator. Big job, and not really necessary.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
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| | | | | Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 4,983 Master Gabster | | Master Gabster Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 4,983 |
~Jim
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 | I have seen the experienced folks over on the VCCA say this is normal for a Chevy six. Mine does that and it doesn't seem to make a difference. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 119 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 119 | Leaving it alone for now then. Seems to be running okay. It is the whole distributor that slightly traces small circles in the air. Maybe in the future I will swap it out with another that is straight. I am collecting spares anyway. Thanks all. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 | Nice truck Lightflyer!
I noticed you have the wrong valve cover on your truck.
1954 was the first year for the four screw valve cover, but it was also the only four screw cover to have four vent slots in it.
If you use the later cover you should use a vented filler cap.
See the USA in your vintage Chevrolet! My Blog | | | | | Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 119 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 119 | As I just got it a week ago I am still learning about it. Can you point me to a picture of this cover? I have no idea if this is the original engine or not. Thanks for the pointer!
David | | | | | Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 | Here is a pic of just the front vents, I will look for a pic with all four. 54 vents
See the USA in your vintage Chevrolet! My Blog | | | | | Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 119 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 119 | Looks like those may let dirt in. Maybe the vented cap is best for now. | | | | | Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 64 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 64 | If the shaft is bent & causing the distributor to dance around in a circe, I believe it will also wear out the dist. bushings. This will cause the points to change gap & dwell & timing as it is running. Just my thoughts---
everybody is ignorant @ something.the more we work together, the less ignorance there is floating around
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 119 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 119 | I have been looking at the Stovebolt HEI dist setup. I am going to call them tomorrow and discuss it. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 | Just a little more information on the distributor wobble. Mine did that before my rebuild. When I had a new timing gear pressed on to the camshaft, it was mounted so there was a very minimum clearance between the cam and the thrust plate. When the engine was run after the rebuild, the distributor wobble was gone. After putting about 6000 miles on it, the wobble at idle is back. I attribute this to the thrust clearance that allows the camshaft to move back and forth slightly at idle. Most of these motors do this and show no ill affects at all. | | |
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