Distributor Rotor HELP! Jack in the box surprise!

kevbo · kevbo's Garage

Hello Pelicans,

Was doing some maint on my 1986 including new cap and rotor. When I removed the old rotor the whole assemble came out and surprise! Couple of springs came off, cats and dogs living together, general chaos (see pics). So I looked around and think i figured out how to get this back together BUT:

1) I can't remember which cylinder it was pointing to before I removed it. It looks like that shaft can go in either way which the rotor would point towards 6 or 3. How can I validate this cause I can't see anyting good coming from not having this right when I try to start it

2) Is the whole assembly supposed to come out like that and if not how do I fix this.

Would greatly appreciate any help!!!

Kevin

kevbo · kevbo's Garage

Posting what I think is the right configuration but please chime in!

zedsn · 11-19-2018, 02:39 PM

That is not suppose to come out. You might need to remove the distributor and take it all the way apart or have someone do it for you to see why it did that and fix it.

smadsen · 11-19-2018, 03:15 PM

I vote with zedsn. This is an opportunity to fix it right and avoid doing auto repair by the side of the road, in the dark, in the rain. Somebody's looking after you if you get a chance to fix this in your garage. Something is broken or missing from a prior build, prolly a circlip or roll pin, baklite spacer. Pull it out altogether & deliver the parts to a distributor fixer guy who knows P-Cars and has parts. Then, prior to install, rotate motor forward by hand & locate #1 TDC. Then reinsert the properly re-assembled distributor with the rotor pointed at the #1 notch on the distributor housing. If you can do it once, it will never be a mystery again. You will need a timing light.

You might be surprised how much better the car will run with a properly working distributor and a new set of spark plugs.

zedsn · 11-19-2018, 03:20 PM

I can recommend someone that I have used several times and he is quite reasonable if you want to send it out. His name is Jeff and he owns advanced distributors and he can fix it and put a recurve on it if you wish as well. You can find him on the interweb.

Trackrash · Trackrash's Garage

Agree, you need to remove the distributor and have it fixed by an experienced mechanic.
There should be a clip at the top to make sure the advance shaft does not come out. But IMO if that is missing there may be other issues lurking.

BTW, you will have to remove the left upper valve cover to be certain your motor is on NUMBER ONE CYLINDER FIRING position. The pulley can show TDC for #1 or #4 cylinder, so making sure it is on #1 firing position can be verified by valve clearance on #1 intake valve.

kevbo · kevbo's Garage

Thanks for the feedback I really appreciate it. To remove the distributor is just that single bolt and it pops out?

zedsn · 11-19-2018, 04:00 PM

Yes, one bolt but you are going to have to make sure that you put it back in the same position that it was removed after it has been repaired. There is a rubber Oring on the shaft that sometimes makes it difficult to remove the dizzy.

cmcfaul · cmcfaul's Garage

make sure you are at TDC for piston one. Remove the one bolt and wiggle it out. can be a PITA to get out.

Chris

eastbay · 11-20-2018, 11:26 AM

Relax, easy fix in place, just reinstall the clip. The wire clip that holds the piece in was probably still in there, look around where you removed the rotor you might find it. It is the circled part in the picture. No need for " an experienced mechanic" to fix a distributor, sheesh.

kevbo · kevbo's Garage

Looks like i have the felt pad thing on the left and the washer on the right. I'll look around for that clip

kevbo · kevbo's Garage

Another angle. Assuming I have all the parts any good references how to put this back together?

eastbay · 08:50 PM

Washer goes under the clip. Pop the clip back back in the groove with a couple of small screwdrivers or pointy tools. Drop or two of oil down the shaft and then push in the felt and oil that lightly also.

As long as you remember which direction the rotor was pointing when you pulled it out you should be fine.

Do a search of distributor rebuilds, lots of info

kevbo · kevbo's Garage

Thanks I really appreciate all the help. I don't remember which direction the rotor was pointing when this all happened so would like to ideas on how to nail this down. I have the valve covers off.

Can I really check valve 1 to determine if I have the rotor pointing in the correct direction? If not any other suggestions?

What happens if I button all this up with the rotor pointing the wrong direction?

zedsn · 11-21-2018, 03:15 AM

The car will not run with the distributor not installed correctly. You can't ruin the car but it will not run. If you plan on turning over the motor by hand to get to top dead center for number one the motor can only go a certain way and I believe the correct way is clockwise off the top of my head. If you go the opposite way you will damage your motor.

GH85Carrera · GH85Carrera's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmcfaul

make sure you are at TDC for piston one. Remove the one bolt and wiggle it out. can be a PITA to get out.

Chris

THIS! ^^^^^

You want to be sure it is Top Dead Center on cylinder #1 BEFORE you remove the distributor. And be sure to have some sort of rag or plug handy to poke into the hole to keep any and all debris out.

kevbo · kevbo's Garage

Is there a way to determine I'm at cylinder 1 without checking the valve clearance? I don't think the car has ever had a valve job so they are all tight (not one feeler getting through) and I checked every position.

Trackrash · Trackrash's Garage

The problem is the fact that when the pulley is at Z1 or TDC both the #1 AND #4 piston are at top dead center. So you need to determine which piston is in FIRING position with respect to the cams.

Also, not sure about your distributor, but my SC had plastic bushes on the ends of the springs.

eastbay · 11-21-2018, 08:42 AM

Worst case you will be 180° out, try to remember which way the rotor was pointing. As others have said, put it together and if it runs you are done, if not take it apart and assemble with the rotor 180° the other way.

Regarding your frustration level, the clip is a beotch to remove once installed, so you may want to try running it without the clip to verify the position. The springs and rotor will hold it together temporarily. No revving or driving. Once it runs, install the washer and clip.

kevbo · kevbo's Garage

So spoke to Zims down here in Bedford TX and they said another way is to set it to TDC, check the rocker arms for cylinder 1 if that they both have play I'm golden. The opposing cylinder (4) will have play only in one arm, intake I believe. Sure enough that worked.

Went through and adjusted a couple valves, now time to button up that valve covers and work on the distributor. (think I'll go through all the valves again just to make sure...)