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I brought my car in to a very reputable corvette shop for a rebuild of the distributor due to the tach drive not working. The distributor was removed and they realized they did noy have the complete kit to rebuild and replaced the distrbutor. The car was running like a champ when I left it this morning but just barely made it back home this afternoon after I picked it up. It started and didn't want to stay started and completely died at the house (about 2 miles) and would not restart. I'd rather not bring it back there. I let it cool for a couple of hours and it restarted but was rough. Any ideas where to start? Keep in mind I didn't remove the dist, so I have no idea if any marks were made upon removal. Thanks
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Re: Distributor installation question 73 L82
Charles-----
More than likely, they didn't get the distributor re-installed correctly, but they may also have "botched" the rebuild in some way. So, while I could give instructions for installing the distributor properly, if there is a problem with the distributor rebuild, you're just going to be getting into a frustrating effort. I'd call them and tell them what your problem is and let THEM figure it out; they created it. You really shouldn't have left the facility if it was running this poorly.In Appreciation of John Hinckley -
Re: Distributor installation question 73 L82
Frustration? I'm passed that because I had to work a miracle to get my car there this AM only to be told later they could not do it. I was told the rebuild started at which point they noticed they did not have all the parts (2 weeks ETA on back order) and put it back together at no charge. Initially I didn't leave, I went back when it would not stay running nor restart when backing out. They quickly removed the shielding and an adjustment made which got it running. It was halfway home that it started running rough again. After the second attempt, well it's like the old saying. I also got the feeling they didn't want to or couldn't spend time on it. So now I am left to address this myself.Comment
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Re: Distributor installation question 73 L82
i bet the distributor moved causing a timing change because they did not get the clamp tight enough. JMHOComment
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Re: Distributor installation question 73 L82
Charles a good source of information on how to rebuild your 73's distributor is found at www.tispeciality.com. Replacing the distributor shaft for your L82 and getting one most correct for your L82 engine may not be easy. You can insure that the replacement shaft will be correct if you have your top piece removed from your original shaft and installed on the new replacement distributor shaft. Standard and high performance shafts were available years ago. When GM stocked and sold them there were many of them in the parts book for Corvettes. You may find a shop locally that can do this. If the gearing was destroyed for your tack drive the gearing on the distributor shaft is most likely going to be damaged. Maint on the tack drive should of been put in the owners manual to prevent the damage that occurs. I am guilty like others of not lubricating my tach gears but not any more.Comment
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Re: Distributor installation question 73 L82
Charles,
Where are you located?
Ask other Chapter members in your area for recommendations.
Ask muscle car owners for recommendations.
VerleComment
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Re: Distributor installation question 73 L82
Charles -
Distributor rebuild is pretty straightforward, and Corvette Central, Paragon, and LICS have all the parts. I wrote a photo-illustrated tech article on rebuilding Corvette tach-drive distributors in this months issue (December, 2007) of "Corvette Enthusiast" magazine - came out about a week ago.Comment
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Timing was completely off
I'm in St Petersburg but a good 2 hours from where my NCRS chapter meets. They meet closer to central Florida I believe. I will get a copy of that article and I will probably rebuild the distributor at home at some point. This morning I went and purchased a timing light and yes the timing was way off (4 after instead of 8 before). It was fairly simple to reset. The hardest part was getting the dist bolt loosened without the proper wrench. I passed on the $25 wrench at NAPA. I don't believe there was anything anatomically wrong other than that because it ran strong on a short road test afterward and even had time to change the Rotella in it and installed a new PF25 (which are now hard to find even in blue). All in all not a bad Saturday afternoon. Thanks for the encouragement all.Comment
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Re: Timing was completely off
i have seen those "wire" distributor clamps let the distributor move because the tach cable was putting pressure in the distributor causing it to moveComment
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Re: Timing was completely off
clem-----
1973 didn't use the "wire" type clamp. Of course, someone could have retrofitted such a piece. All 1973 originally used the "solid steel" clamp.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: Timing was completely off
Charles-----
I'm amazed that 4 degrees of extra advance could have made the engine run so rough, to the point of shutting down.
As far as the distributor wrench goes, they are a VERY good thing to own. However, you should be able to find one for less than $25. It'll probably be Chinese-manufactured, but it'll work ok for you.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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I had it at 12 degrees off
The clamp is solid steel and pretty snug when you tighten it down. I had it at 12 degrees of timing off. Initially when I put the light on it was at the 4 after mark I had to bring it back past zero then to 8 for a total of 12 degrees. It was running awful but seems to be cured now. The fun was trying to tighten the clamp down before the distributor moved. I did see one dist wrench later in the $5 bin at the local parts shop. It was stamped "taiwan" and was the thickness of maybe a cheap spoon. I passed on that one too.Comment
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Re: I had it at 12 degrees off
Charles----
OK, you had 4 degrees of RETARD compared to the required 8 degrees of ADVANCE. That might well make an engine run badly. It'll also make it run hot. And, the exhaust will usually stink!In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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