distributor

[lukeyboy60]

'74 302

the only way my bronco will start is I push on the back of the distributor. as soon as I let off it runs really weak then kills. Point type dist. and just had the the points changed. Also just changed the plug wires and cap. None of these solved the problem. Do distributors just go bad. How difficult is it to change the whole thing? Thanks.

 

[Bully Bob]

Huh...!!

First, short a plug wire & see if you're getting a nice spark.

If so, then;

Distrib. timing may be off.

Could be a failing timing chain

If weak spark then;

Wiring

Coil

Condenser

A worn dist. will cause irratic running but doubt what you're describing.

May need to offer up more history on your situation.

 

[lukeyboy60]

Thanks for the reply. Coil is fairly new. Getting good spark. I was tinkering with it today and I got it to stay running for a while. It was not running strong, but running. with my hand on the back of the dist., it accepts the throttle and runs like it should. as soon as I take my hand off of the dist. and give it gas it struggles, sucks alot of air and sometimes kills. When it kills there is no back fire out the back or through the neck of the carb. This is why I am confused. Prior timing porblems that I have had has resulted in some type of back fire. None of which is occuring in this instance. When I push on the back of the dist. It doesn't look like there is any movement on the dist. itself. If there is, it is very little. However the cap does move about a 1/4 of an inch or so. Maybe this has something to do with it. Hope this gives ya'll more heads up with my frustrating problem. Thanks again.

 

[Bully Bob]

Wow..!

Don't know what to make of that..?

Sounds like a major vacuum leak.....but dist. isn't in the vac. loop. (except for the adv.)

Dist. cap shouldn't move at all...

Start fr. the begining....#1 cyl. at top dead ctr. & timing mark on --0--

See if rotor is pointing at #1 spark plug wire. Check all wires are on the correct plug....

 

[S_bolt19]

Does this have the dual vacuum advance? I know one of my old EBs had that and if 1 vac. line was cracked or damaged in anyway, it would do similar things. The other thing you might try just to see what kind of result you get is to advance it by a degree. You are in LA so I would assume your elevation wouldn't be more than 1k feet. Try and set your advance at about 7 BTDC and see how that works out. I have always found that for every 1k feet of elevation, you go 1 degree with it as well on timing.

 

[lukeyboy60]

Great info fellas. Thanks for the replys. I will try those things and keep ya'll posted.