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Has anyone rebuilt a 292 distribuator the low idle on my 66 is bad I could feel play in the dist I have seen past post that this is an issue with these I do have an HEI dist But have kept everything original where would one acquire the parts any info appreciated

Thanks Dave

pghdave1's post but in readable form.

Has anyone rebuilt a 292 distributor?
The low idle on my 66 is bad. I could feel play in the dist.
I have seen past post that this is an issue with these.
I do have an HEI dist but have kept everything original.
Where would one acquire the parts?
Any info appreciated.

My answer is, put the HEI in. You won't be disappointed.

Wow guess I should not have spelled distributor wrong and added some periods and commas but anyway thanks for the constructive criticism.

Thanks Dave

Yes, you can rebuild it but first check a couple things that may be a deal breaker. First, pull out the shaft and see if it is scored where it runs through the brass bushings in the housing. Usually the scoring happens around the top bushing area. Next check the advance weight pivot pins since often these are worn halfway through. Check out the points cam lobes for wear and roughness as this will eat a point rubbing block up which will change your points setting way to quickly. Give it a general look over for wire fraying, plate warpage, screw threads in the plate, and anything else subject to movement or wear. Any bearing supply place will have oilite bronze bushings although you may have to get some close and turn or hone to exact size. If the shaft and/or pivot pins are bad it's probably best to buy new.

My first experience with HEIs was when I bought a truck that had one. The truck didn't run especially well so I did a tune-up and that helped. I found the pushrods were different lengths and the rockers were badly worn, so I replaced those and rebuilt and tuned the carb, which helped but it still kinda "chugged" at idle and stumbled on acceleration. I gutted the cat, but that made no difference. The only thing left was the HEI! I pulled it and cleaned everything real well. I replaced the module with a high performance one and started to put it back when a buddy came by and looked at what I was doing and asked, "did you replace the vacuum advance?" I had not so we went to the parts house and got one. I installed it and replaced the rubber parts if the vacuum line, set the timing. When I hit the key, the engine, the engine started before it turned over once and ran so smoothly that I was amazed. I reset the idle and took it around the block and it really preformed well. Problem SOLVED!

The moral of this is the HEI is the best distributor for almost anything and even an HEI needs service sometimes. If you have to get a vacuum advance, get the 10 degree one for trucks. They are exactly the same as the V-8 part, as is the module.

best wishes,

Les

Langdon'e Stovebolt sells a reman HEI for a really good price, complete unit.

www.stoveboltengineco.com