There is another possibility that no one has mentioned as yet, which is
that you collapsed the lower portion of the distributor housing by
overtightening the clamp. This sounds drastic, but it is not uncommon, as
the aluminum is very thin where the clamp attaches (poor original
design). You should remove the distributor entirely to check this. If it
is cracked, there probably is nothing to do but find a new distributor,
either a used housing if your other components are in good shape, or a
new replacement. I suppose you could try to get creative with JB Weld to
fix the old one, but who knows how well it would hold up? Mine not only
had a crack, but a bent shaft, so I replaced it. Good luck.
Jones, Mark had this to say:
>Yesterday my MGB GT was working terribly. I figured that the timing must
>have changed and probably due to the distributor not been tightened enough.
>After work I tried turning the distributor by hand it moved, so I tightened
>the clamp bolt all the way and it still moves very freely. I drove to my
>wife's office and left it there for the night. This morning it would barely
>start and the distributor's vacuum is pointing towards the firewall! So I
>dig out the electrical tape and tape the vacuum upwards to the water valve
>to hold it in, I hope, a BTDC position and am able to start it and drive it
>a mile to my office. But I need the list's help. What can I do to the
>clamp to get it to clamp the distributor tighter? Any tricks for easily
>unbolting the clamping plate?
>
>Mark
>73 MGB GT
>
--
Max Heim
'66 MGB GHN3L76149
If you're near Mountain View, CA,
it's the red one with the silver bootlid.
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