distributer questions

[tbart16]

I was adjusting the timing on my new engine and noticed a lot of play in the distributer when the "horseshoe shaped" clip is loose the distributer is like a joystick it moves about a quarter inch in all directions is this normal? thanks

[astro355]

Hello,

what year van do you have?

[tbart16]

yeah I guess that would help 1997 2wd

[astro355]

Something is wrong. There is no adjustment with the distributor on your van. The distributor is notched so it can only go in right or 180* off.

[tbart16]

it goes in no prob ,but without the clip on top tightend you can move the whole distributor side to side front to back it seems very strange ,but my parts van is exactly the same. Now when the horseshoe clip is tight it cannot be moved.
Also if my timing was advanced a little to far would this cause a knock? thanks

[astro355]

Can you post a pic of your distributor? All of the distributors I have seen for the newer vans have the clip affixed to the distributor housing so there is no adjustment.

Advancing the timing would create a ping.

[tbart16]

sorry cannot get a pic I am at work right now I am just concerned about the way it fits it seems like it is pretty loose. The clip on top does hold it down and prevents any movement.

no this is a knock not a ping thanks again

[$uperJoe]

i would check your knock sensor

[webcat]

Why dont you remove the distributor and check the gear for wear and also jiggle it to see how much play it has , the gear should'nt jiggle side to side but you should be able to move it up and down about a 1/8"
If it checks out i would'nt worry about it , make sure your oil pump shaft is in there between your oil pump and your distributor and install , if you jiggle it while the horse shoe clip is is loosened and the distributor is in all the way down and it jiggles a little bit , that is normal


On (Multi point fuel injection ) models , I dont think your supposed to adjust the timing the way you do with the older models , You get it as close as possible to top dead center and rotor pointing to #1 spark plug wire and then connect a scan tool and then here's the procedure!

1996-97 MODELS
The ignition timing is preset and cannot be adjusted. If the distributor position is moved, crossfiring may be induced. To check distributor position, do the following:

NOTE: An OBD ll compliant scan tool is required for this procedure.


With the ignition OFF, attach the scan tool to the Data Link Connector (DLC).
Start the engine and bring the vehicle to operating temperature.
Monitor cam retard on the scan tool.
If cam retard is between -2°and +2°, the distributor is properly adjusted.
If cam retard is not between -2°and +2°the distributor must be adjusted.
With the engine OFF, loosen the distributor hold-down bolt.
Start the engine and check the cam retard reading. Rotate the distributor counterclockwise to compensate for a negative reading and clockwise to compensate for a positive reading.
Momentarily raise the engine speed to over 1000 RPM and check the cam retard reading.
If the proper reading is not achieved, repeat Steps 7 and 8.
When the proper reading has been achieved, tighten the distributor hold-down bolt and disconnect the scan tool.

[webcat]

Something is wrong. There is no adjustment with the distributor on your van. The distributor is notched so it can only go in right or 180* off.

I have a distributor from my 1996 laying around , i could'nt find any notch on it , am i overlooking it?

[astro355]

Something is wrong. There is no adjustment with the distributor on your van. The distributor is notched so it can only go in right or 180* off.

I have a distributor from my 1996 laying around , i could'nt find any notch on it , am i overlooking it?

My neighbors 96 that I just worked on has a distributor hold down that is attached to the distributor. That is what prevents any adjustment on the distributor. That is what I mean by being notched.

[webcat]

My neighbors 96 that I just worked on has a distributor hold down that is attached to the distributor. That is what prevents any adjustment on the distributor. That is what I mean by being notched.

The distributor in the picture is from a 1996 V8 (has no notch) mayby the distributor being from a V8 has something to do with it , 355, was the 1996 engine you worked on a V6?
I'm guessing the distributor with the notch has a little play in it that allows you to adjust the timing between -2* and +2* even though it has the notch .
Even though that distributor that i have in the picture has no notch , i dont think your supposed to adjust it except for the little bit while watching the cam retard on the scan tool to get it between -2* and +2*

[rev_les]

the pic of the distributor is just missing the hold down bracket.... if you notice, it has a squared off section, the hold down bracket fits around it very snug..it holds the distributor in adjustment,and the bracket itself has a notch that fits around a pressed in pin in the intake manifold.there's no advance/retard built in,it holds it directly where it needs to be rotation wise.there may be some lateral adjustment,i don't remember,but no rotational movement ( IE timing )

[webcat]

My bracket dont have a notch or a pressed in pin in the distributor .
You should post a picture of what this notch and pin look like.

[astro355]

the pic of the distributor is just missing the hold down bracket.... if you notice, it has a squared off section, the hold down bracket fits around it very snug..it holds the distributor in adjustment,and the bracket itself has a notch that fits around a pressed in pin in the intake manifold.there's no advance/retard built in,it holds it directly where it needs to be rotation wise.there may be some lateral adjustment,i don't remember,but no rotational movement ( IE timing )

Yes, what he said.

Webcat, take a pic of your distributor with the hold down bracket attached to it.

My neighbors van is stock with a 4.3L V6.

[webcat]

i'm just saying the one i have mounts different then your neighbors , it looks like the distributor would look the same but mine dont use the squared off section to mount it , below the squared off section theres a ridge like the TBI distributor had , thats what my clamp holds down.
my hold down clamp looks exactly like the older TBI engines and my intake dont have a pin

[tbart16]

thanks everyone I think mine is normal where is the knock sensor located?

[lawbuck]

when i still had the 4.3 mine was the same way. i replaced it with a billet one from marrory. i ordered it through pep boys.so much better. then when i put in the 5.7 liter i found i could still use it. just had to change the cap. the rotor and cam sensor are even the same.

[$uperJoe]

im not sure about the cpi but i think the knock sensor is in front of the starter still below the exhaust manifold