Hi Robert,
I just went and wiggled the distributor shaft. There was a small amount of
movement. Tiny, in fact. How tolerant are they?
Re. Electronic ignition - why Pertronix? Aren't the original Hitachi
options available any longer?
>From: Robert Porter <drrebob@usnetway.com>
>To: Stephen McCartney <sgam@hotmail.com>
>Subject: Re: Tearing my hair out!
>Date: Thu, 01 Feb 2001 16:22:29 -0500
>
>Steve:
>
>I had a similar problem, except that everything would run fine until the
>engine was well warmed up, then it would start missing and backfiring
>horribly. Everything checked out, except when I checked the timing, the
>white spot on the timing mark would fluctuate erratically. Diagnosis:
>worn
>distributor, with a loose shaft that would wobble more and more as the
>engine heated up. With the cap and rotor off, I could grasp the shaft and
>feel the looseness by wobbling it back and forth. Had the shaft refitted
>at
>a local machine shop and purchased a non-smog rebuild kit from Rallye for
>about $50; it came with very detailed instructions, which I followed
>religiously (while also double checking with Tom Walters fine Tech Tip on
>the subject.) It's been runningg fine ever since.
>
>Another option: Go electronic with a Pertonix unit (although I don't know
>if you would still have to replace/refit the shaft).
>
>Bob Porter
>Harrisburg PA
>
> > From: "Stephen McCartney" <sgam@hotmail.com>
> > Reply-To: "Stephen McCartney" <sgam@hotmail.com>
> > Date: Wed, 31 Jan 2001 23:00:35 -0000
> > To: datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net
> > Subject: Tearing my hair out!
> >
> > Maybe you guys can help.
> >
> > Here's the thing. No. 3 cylinder is sometimes missing.
> > Symptoms:
> >
> > No. 3 starts missing, there's still a spark going to the plug, but the
>plug
> > is fouling. Pull it, and it's black and wet.
> > When it's running on three, it does start to blow a lot of smoke, and
>STINKS
> > of petrol.
> > Clean it up, it works fine. For a while.
> > Also, the problem is always more persistent on hot days. There's a heat
> > shield missing between the exhaust manifold and the carbies, and what
>with
> > the fuel I'd been running, we thought it might have been a fuel problem,
>but
> > been running nothing but optimax through her since, and have just
>changed
> > the fuel filter, pulled the carbies apart(no problem - just a leak at
>the
> > gasket for no. 3, now fixed).
> >
> > Compression test shows that all cylinders are at 140psi - apparently a
> > little lower than standard, but they're all the same! One possibility
>is
> > that when the engine was rebuilt (about 5 years ago) pistons from a
>Datsun H
> > series engine were put in (exactly the same as from my U series engine,
>but
> > with a concave top, instead of a flat top).
> > Another possibility is that although Nissan factory rings were used, the
> > engine *is* 30 years old, and maybe needed larger rings. But why is it
>only
> > no. 3 that's fouling? And why isn't the compression lower on no. 3?
>We're
> > confused, baffled, and I'm tearing my hair out.
> >
> > Also, there is an aftermarket thermo fan which is pulling lots of
>current,
> > maybe the spark just isn't quite enough, at times?
> > (That's me being hopelessly optimistic, so as not to have to spend mucho
> > dollars on a rebuild.)
> >
> > Any ideas on what this problem could be?
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > Steve
> > (SR311-01113)
> >
> >
>_________________________________________________________________________
> >
>
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