question on FE #2

Is the plate hanging up or the vacuum cannister? I used to not use the vacuum part and had the distributor calibrated to advance mechanically to around 34 degrees at full open throttle.

well body back on frame-- motor rebuilt- dist still giveing me fits- but it came out of the garage under its own power-- im a happy camper.

Originally Posted by deadhorse

holds vac-- but the plate only will move about 3/16 of an inch--

kultulz-- what i dont understand is -- it runs so good with the vac unhooked-

with the timeing light hooked up -give it fuel and you can watch it it advance. hose un hooked-

352 rebuilt -- new dist- when hooked to ported vac on carb-- idels good -- bring it off idle and i get a skip-- un hook vac canaster --give it fuel -- no skip--

timeing set at 10 drg befor -- help

For some reason, the vacuum cannister is interfering with the advance plates. It runs good without the vacuum hookup because it is relying soley on mechanical advance.

Can you remove the vacuum advance arm from the top plate and see if the arm moves freely? If yes, it is no good.

Check the pigtail (wire) to the points and the condenser wire, or if its electronic, the pickup wiring.

Mechanical advance changes the position of the rotor which doesnt affect the wiring, vacuum advance turns the plate itself, which can cause a short or a break

Often, the wire will fray, or rub the insulation off, or start pulling out of a pickup and when the vac advance pulls the plate around, that will cause it to short out, or make or break contact

no frayed wires--

un hooked vac cannaster arm-- pulled vac and stuck toung over hose -- it held a vac-- this arm under vac only moves about 1/8 in---plate moves freely altho roughtly--its not a smooth swivel-- kinda draggie--

this is a rebuilt dis from oreiilys auto parts-

the skip is when comeing off idle with the vac hooked up- take vac off and it runs smooth--

Bad vacuum advance- take the distributor back.

i have a new dist for a 289 that i just pulled -- what about switching out vac advance cans--

as far as i can see they look the same

edit
went out changed vac cans off a dist in an engine that runs good-- no difference-- still bad skip off idle-- i unhooked the vac-and it runs good --iv never seen an engine come off idle so smoothly as this one does with no vac advance--

right now i have rubber bootie plugs on the carb and the dist. - i hate running it with out the advance hooked up- but-its running strong with out it -- thanks for your help and if you think of any thing else -I'm open for suggestions --

might take the dist back --if i can find recite

gentlemen --the fix-

talked to Gary on the phone -he had me check the pin the point plate swivels on -- shoonuff it was broken on the bottom of the point plate-- just hanging by a small piece of metal--

i took a dist.from a 289 apart and used the point plate--

this is one sweet running motor -- no skips -no hesitations-- quiet and smooth-

id like to thank all of you for your time and suggestions-

- found bad vac can-- bad point plate -- on a brand new dist--

Hip Hip HOORAY!!! Now go drive that Gal like you stole her. Kudos to you too Gary.

Hey Deadhorse, I had to look twice at the pic you posted. I thought that you had somehow shortened the quarters up on your Gal! The way the shadow hits on the pic it fooled my optic nerves! Got a plan for paint color yet?