[Mgs] MGA 180 out Distributor Mystery

[Max Heim]

Because the DPO had put the drive gear in the wrong way, and "compensated"
by rearranging the plug wires. You didn't find this out until you tried a
different distributor.

--

Max Heim
'66 MGB GHN3L76149
If you're near Menlo Park, CA,
it's the primer red one with chrome wires


on 10/20/12 6:25 PM, Robert J. Guinness at guinness at stclegal.com wrote:

> I have an MGA 1600 with an MGB 1800 3 main engine and a DM2 distributor
> from the original 1600 engine.  It was missing badly when I parked it.
> Then I could not start it at all and had mammoth backfires out the
> tailpipe. Two sets of newly installed points would not open when fully
> adjusted out.  A club member suggested that the distributor bearing was
> wearing out. I took the 1800's original 25D distributor and base clamp
> and installed it.  Static timed it with the rotor pointing to the #1
> wire, but same result.  Getting good gas flow to carbs.  Compression all
> between 110 and 120.  Spark plugs had velvety black soot. I got used
> another DM2 with the same result.  I installed a new Lucas 25D, same
> result. Then I switched the wires replacing #1 with #4 and # 2 and # 3
> figuring it was 180 out.  Bingo, it purred like a kitten.  Mystery.  How
> could the distributor drive gear get 180 out when I never touched it?  I
> had replace the points twice before by taking the distributor out and
> static timing it with the rotor at the #1 plug.  I am flummoxed. Any clues?