Jorge -
First things first. When you tune a car, the VERY first thing you do is set
the dwell / points gap. If you adjust the dwell after you've done the timing
(as you've said in your email), the timing will be off... so it sounds like
your timing is off.
The major problem with distributors is the wobble you can get in the shaft as
well as wear on the distibutor cam itself, both of these things will affect the
dwell/ points gap / and timing. It is unusual for a worn distributor to have
major problems at specific RPMs because it is worn, unless the mechanical
advance springs are broken or have fallen off (they rarely wear out, frankly),
or maybe a PO put the wrong springs on it.
If you suspect you have a worn shaft and cam on your distributor, your only
option is to send it to a specialist for a total rebuild, which costs around
$100 - $200. You cannot buy the distibutor parts seperately, they are only
sold in complete sets directly to rebuilders, basically.
If you are looking for a cheaper fix, the solution is to put on a Pertronix
electronic ignition. This system works the same whether your cam or dist.
shaft is worn or not. The only case where it will have the same problems as
points (in a bad distributor) is if your mechanical advance springs are broken
or missing, but this is easy enough to check.
Hope that helps,
Regards,
Alan
'53 BN1 '64 BJ8
Jorge Garcia <fortee9er@yahoo.com> wrote:
I think the distributor on my BJ8 needs to be rebuilt, it has 80k miles and it
has never been rebuilt. What leads me to believe that it needs to be overhauled
is that the engine misses and backfires under load at medium high rpm. I cant
tell the exact rpm at which this happens because the tachometer is not working,
ditto for the speedometer. The points have been in the car for two years but
probably have not covered more than 200 miles in that time. The ignition wires
are new as are the points and condenser. The engine was timed first with a
timing light and followed by checking the dwell angle and setting it to spec.
The missing and backfiring is not new as the car has been doing it since I got
it back on the road after a decades long slumber. The problem I am looking at
is that there are no replacement distributors available on the Moss catalog and
the one part I though would be needed for an overhaul, bearings, are also not
listed. Those of you who have rebuild your own
distributors please help me and tell me what parts I need and where can I get
them.
Thank You
Jorge Garcia
Houston, TX
1965 BJ8
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