[bscoffey]

hi guys,
I just replaced the intake gaskets,rocker arm cover gaskets & grommets, radiator and related hoses. when i put the ditributor back in i noticed that there was alot of play in it front to back. I know that the computer controls the timing but i moved it toward the cam (front of the engine) as far as i could. I have replaced the dist last summer cause the cam sensor went bad so i replaced the whole thing.I didn'tt buy OE i bought one from Auto Zone i think it was a cardone rebuilt one.I didnt know at the time that i needed to buy OE. I have a problem with a rattle in the engine i once thought it was a rocker loose or a connecting rod now i think it may be the el cheepo dist from the zone. my question is will this distributor give me problems ? if so what kind ? im gonna change it as soon as the new one gets here. any response would help :shrug:

 

[astro355]

If the distributor is in fact loose, you could have all sort of driveability problems. No power, poor fuel economy, etc. Distributor noise are easy to pick up on because they are at the top and back of the engine, right next to the doghouse. They sound different than connecting rods or lifters since rods and lifters go up and down, the distributor spins one direction.

 

[Matrixx]

X2

 

[bscoffey]

thanks guys I bought one of those sthetascope thingys and im pretty sure the dist is the problem. Shouldn't have tried to go cheep with the Auto Zone stuff. Like my brother-in-law always says YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. :doh: The noise problem was when it was under a load not all the time. So im guessing that when the dist gear and cam gear started really meshing together the dist shaft inside the housing started to "dance " around therefore giving me a rattle.

 

[astro355]

You do realize that lifter noise will transmit through the base of the distributor, right?

 

[bscoffey]

yes but i dont think this is a lifter it is a deeper rattle not a 'tick' 'tick' that a lifter makes

 

[astro355]

A distributor would not make a deep rattle. The more a noise transmits thru another part, the deeper the sound is. I just would hate it for you to replace a part and have it not solve your problem.

 

[Gary]

With the dizzy being that loose I would think it would create all kinds of weird timing issues and maybe detonation/pinging.etc. :think: :2:

 

[bscoffey]

you guys think the surging problem i have could be caused by this dist. i does act like its outta time only when i start it ,gives a little knock at start up but only at start up

 

[Gary]

I would think it could have a effect.

 

[astro355]

Well, I guess you'll find out why you replace the distributor. I'm just afraid that something else is going on here. How much slop are we talking about in the distributor?

 

[bscoffey]

the distributor will move or twist front to back 1/4 to 1/2 inch. seems to run better if i twist it to the front as far as it will go. still has a little miss driving @ part throttle.idle and WOT runs well, still have a problem with poor gas mileage.i checked the plugs and wires they are almsot new and look fine.cap and rotor are the same age as the plugs and wires and they look fine. :banghead:

 

[Matrixx]

???? 1/4" play -- 1/2" play in the distributor and your still mess'n with it ?? Maybe theirs still a warranty, either way, deep 6 it.

 

[bscoffey]

yea matrixx i worked 1/2 day fri & all day sat doing the intake gaskets & radiator. So i havent had time to mess with it. there is a warranty on it from auto zone im gonna try to get to it sat. i have to replace thee clutch in my wifes car this week also so the van moves to the back burner.

 

[astro355]

So the shaft that attaches to the rotor moves 1/4" to 1/2". We're not talking about the movement you get from the mechanical advance that the rotor attaches to right?

 

[bscoffey]

THIS IS THE MOVEMENT THE DIST MOVES IN THE INTAKE. sorry had the caps lock on .the closer i move it toward the front of the engine the less noise it makes.

 

[Gary]

Well it sure sounds like you have the dizzy off by one tooth. :think:

 

[astro355]

THIS IS THE MOVEMENT THE DIST MOVES IN THE INTAKE. sorry had the caps lock on .the closer i move it toward the front of the engine the less noise it makes.

That's not what we're talking about when we say freeplay in the distributor. I'll get a picture up later to describe it.

 

[Gary]

THIS IS THE MOVEMENT THE DIST MOVES IN THE INTAKE. sorry had the caps lock on .the closer i move it toward the front of the engine the less noise it makes.

That's not what we're talking about when we say freeplay in the distributor. I'll get a picture up later to describe it.

Jim-think about this.The op says there is a noise that gets better advancing the dizzy.The noise is pre-ignition and he has the dizzy off by say one tooth.

 

[bscoffey]

jim & gary ,
guys the dist moves or will "slide" front to back in the intake manifold. i know there is no adjustment for advancement or retard of the timing but the dist still moves. im just wondering if i got the right dist for my vehicle. the noise it makes is the rattle in the engine,like the dist shaft inside the dist housing has movement inside the dist, and like its not meshing well with the cam gear . the noise is akin to a conn rod rattle not detonation.if i was a tooth off i prob would have detonation but wouldnt it throw a code? cam sensor & crank sensor not lined up and all . im gonna take the dist back to the zone today or tommorrow. Im working late this week to get a job done so that hinders things. thanks, though, for taking a look at my post & trying to help. this my be the root of the problem of poor performance and poor gas mileage i've been having. :banghead: