Distributor need help

[Speedy1]

My 82SC started missing but not a flat out miss more like it was down on power in one maby two holes. I know the wire going into the distributor is missing the dust boot that covers the wire just as it enters the side of the housing, also the wire's insulation has-been stripped back a bit so bare wire is visable. When trying to investigate the wire I gentely pulled on the wire to find out if it has a connector in the end or if it plugs into a module in the distributor, and what looked like a few crumbles of PC board fell out the hole. I ordered a new cable but I dont see a way of getting to the place where the wire plugs into. The plate in the dist. looks like it is rivited in place. How is this wire replaced? any help is much appriciated thanks Speedy1

[emcon5]

On my 82, the clip is held on by a small screw, not a rivet.

It isn't easy, but you can take the air duct off the fan shroud and access the screw without removing the distributor. If you do remove the distributor, make sure you turn the engine to #1 TDC and tape the rotor in place, makes it easier to reassemble.

This is a fairly common problem. Do a search in the archives for "green wire"

Tom

[Speedy1]

Tom my wire is brown and how do you get under the metal plate that is under the plastic dust shield. Remove, cap - rotor - dust shieldthen metal plate? That one looks to be riveted in. Thanks again

[emcon5]

Which wire are you talking about? The wire I thought you were having problems with goes into the side of the distributor housing, and then into the harness in the direction of the CDI box. If this is what you are talking about, it comes out the side, not the top.

I will see if I can find a picture.

Tom

[Superman]

I don't believe you can get at that plate unless you remove and disassemble the distributor, which is not easy to do. Also, JW thinks my windings probably dies because of my act of disassembling the distributor months ago. So, I'd suggest against it unless there is slop in the shaft.

No, the thing you need to do is remove the distributor and install the pigtail that is available for your car. The two wires going into the side of your distributor are plugged into the unit inside. The pigtail replaced the wire, and includes the proper rubber plug. It is about 6" long and ends in one of those square 'injector' plugs.

That's a good project for you, but it may not fix your miss problem. The miss problem may be related to ignition wires or connectors. Spark plug connectors. Check those things for continuity and resistance. Watch them operate in the dark. They should not arc or glow.

[Speedy1]

OK got it handled this evening . I removed the dist, and pulled what was left of the old connector out of the slot. then plugged the new pig tail into the side and used the stock clip to hold it in place. I had to remove about 2" of the old wire. It was way to brittle and the ends did not have any insulation over them.
I could not find any of my heat shrink tubing. So, I cut them off and replaced them with insulated connectors. I have a new ? I may have done a stupid thing I guessed at the wire location ie. which wire goes where. I think one of the male ends in the pig tail connector is slightly larger than the othe,r so I went with the larger one getting the ground It started up fine but still seemed to miss so I installed the new rotor and cap and it runs like a champ! I re timed it 5-7deg BTDC. What would happen if the wires are on backasswards. Not the plug wires the connector to the green pig tail. The tack works I don't know if that would make any diff. Also the plug wires are 6 mo old.' I do believe I have a vacume leak but I dont know from where. The motor runs smooth but when it gets hot the idel runs up to aprx 1200 rpm's. When I stop at lights. Also I can put my hand over the air box intake and seal it and the motor keeps running just as smooth as befor almost no differance any clue on what to look fore and thanks for the help on the green wire Speedy1