FI distributor

[David Van Weele]

I pulled my distributor again today. I rotated the driven gear 180 degrees re-installed it and the car would not start. I had to pull the dist. anyhow to re-shim the driven gear so I decided to change the points since they are 20 years old but only with about 1000 miles on them. They were pitted, I guess due to the oil that has gotten into the upper housing. The springs on the weights also could use some help so I ordered the part tonight.

Now for my question. The seal and felt washer were not installed in the order shown in the parts book. The felt was under the seal. I have never had this apart in the 38 years I have owned the car. The replacement seal I bought is flat where as the original one has lips both on the inside and outside edges. The original seal was loose on the shaft so I assume that is where the oil is coming from. Can I use the flat seal or does someone sell a replacement seal with the lips? Also there still was some lubricant in the well below the seal that looked like Vaseline, once I started to dig it out. What should I use in this well for the lubrication. The cam is still the original and looks like it should be replaced. How does this come off the shaft? LICS list a replacement part so I assume it is removable?

One last question, should I put the gear on with the dimple facing the rotor contact or the way is was originally installed?

Thanks for any thoughts and help.

Dave

[Duke W.]

Re: FI distributor

I looked at the dist. exploded view on page 2-9 of the IPB and it shows a single point FI dist. that apparently uses the same seal and felt washer as the other single point dists. The seal does not seal the shaft. It "seals" the upper bushing reservoir. The felt washer should be lubricated with e few drops of engine oil. It's purpose is to lubricate the breaker plate as it moves against the housing on commmand from the vacuum advance, and it should be above the seal.

I can't find the p/n for the seal in the referenced group, but the felt washer is 1951099. Borg Warner brand also has a felt washer - DG12. Another useful BW part is the advance stop bushing - DG3, but they don't show the plastic seal, either. I recall finding a p/n for this seal before, so I'll keep looking.

The proper grease to use in the upper well is that real expensive Delco siliconized grease that's also meant to starter bushings - 1960954. It doesn't look like vasoline, but I'm not sure what it might look like after 38 years.

I know you say the dist. has never been apart, but the grease description, seal/washer installation, and gear 180 out are suspicious. I recommend you install the gear "correctly" with the rotor tip pointing in the same direction as the dimple. Index the timing mark with the 10 deg. mark on the tab on the number 1 compression stroke, install the dist. and rotate it until the points just open with the plug wires properly indexed.

You should visit a Delco dealer who has the latest catalogs and a good IPB. That plastic washer has to be available. I think it's the same as the HEI distributors, and it is not flat.

The cam is an assembly and the length of the slot in the upper portion determines you total cent. advance, so there are several variations. My parts book does not list a specific replacement for your engine, but 1935632 for the 64-65 SHP and FI engines is probably the closest fit.

Duke

Duke