Theo,
Having looked at the "Cobralads" article I would think that before you
install ANY other distributor that you put some clay or like material under
the mounting surface of the distributor and see if there is any gap
(obviously you would want none). It might also be a good idea to do the same
with the oil pump shaft (where it slides in the distributor) as well (here
you would want to see some gap). A little powder often keeps the clay from
sticking and stretching the clay when seperating the two parts and altering
the reading. Of course use caution to keep either from falling into the
engine.
Tom Witt B9470101
----- Original Message -----
From: Theo Smit <theo.smit@dynastream.com>
To: <tigers@autox.team.net>
Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2003 7:48 AM
Subject: Distributor gear hassles.
> Listers:
> A few thousand miles ago I replaced the Unilite distributor with a
> hybrid Ford distributor I'd assembled - points-style housing and lower
> shaft, reluctor advance plate and upper shaft, for use with the MSD-6AL
> I re-used the distributor gear from the old distributor. Some time
> previous to that I'd put in a high volume oil pump when I also put on
> the Canton oil pan, pickup, and windage tray. The cam was never changed
> - it's a non-roller, hydraulic performance cam of some description.
>
> Fast forward to last night: Driving along at about 60 MPH in fourth
> (shortly after a 5000 RPM run through the gears, but everything was
> warmed up) when I got a big backfire, lost power, and then I was
> coasting. Lots of cranking produced no results, and then I pulled the
> distributor cap and noticed the rotor wasn't turning when I cranked the
> engine. I pulled the distributor before work this morning and found that
> the distributor gear had been shaved until the teeth were no longer able
> to take the load.
>
> So my question(s) are: Has anyone else had stuff like this happen as a
> result of changing to a high-volume oil pump? Should I have replaced the
> distributor gear with a brand new one (even though the cam was not
> replaced)? What are the odds that the cam gear has also been fried by
> the events leading up to last night?
>
> I wasn't really looking for an excuse to build a new engine (or rebuild
> this one) but it looks like the decision has probably been made for me.
>
> Theo
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