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Way out of time

To: 6pack@autox.team.net
Subject: Way out of time
From: KKSMC@aol.com
Date: Sun, 11 Apr 2004 11:28:02 EDT
COMRADES,
Recently had the'74-6 out for the 2nd time this spring. Exiting the off ramp 
on the Interstate I heard a major backfire, partial loss of power, then when 
pulling off the road the engine died completely.

Turns out the brass arm had separated from its fixed position on the ignition 
rotor and 
was at a 45 degree angle from the 'long' axis of the rotor body. The center 
rivet was intact but the locating dimple of the brass arm had risen up out of 
it's position and turned the 45 degrees. Luckily I had a spare and was off on 
my merry way until...........

Returning on the entrance ramp onto the interstate the engine developed a 
severe miss.
Lost almost all power and pulled safely off (again).  Turns out the entire 
distributor had turned ccw avout 45 degrees and stopped there when the vacuum 
retard unit butted up againt the engine block. Loosened the distributor clamp 
and turned unit cw to where I thought the  correct position should be. Somewhat 
intimidating experience doing this with cars whizzing by @ 65-80 mph.

After finally returning home and re-adjusting the distributor I cannot get 
the engine to accelerate smoothly on all 6 cylinders from a standstill. Engine 
idles fine @ approx. 900/1,000 rpm's but hesitates when reving up from idle and 
upon acceleration (without backfiring). Adjustment clamp is tight.


Did I cause any engine damage when the distributor turned the 45 degrees ccw 
upon accelerating on the I-S?  May this be only a incorrect timing issue or 
maybe some other demon lurking?  Also, is there a simple test to determine if 
the distributor cap  may be shorting out causing the hesitation and missing?

Any help for this novice on tpossible cures is always appreciated.

THANKS

KEN CONTE
'74-6
ID #910





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