When I was disassembling and rebuilding the original distributor on my 67 327/300 conv recently, I had trouble figuring out what a particular compound was. There is a cavity in the top of the housing where the upper shaft bearing is located that was filled with a dry, hardened, sawdust type material. It came out in chunks. No diagram or list I have found shows what this material was or should be. Diagrams show a felt washer located on top of a small plastic seal that covers up this cavity, but doesn't show what goes inside the cavity. This cavity doesn't appear to go anywhere, so I can't figure out what it's purpose is. Can anyone fill me in on this from their experience??
-
-
Re: Stuff in distributor - what is it??
This Stuff??
This is referred to as the oil or grease well. The purpose of this stuff is to lubricate the upper mainshaft bearing. The upper bearing has a small hole that opens to the bottom of the grease well. Friction causes heat which draws the oil out of the grease and provides librication. The lower is lubricated by oil mist but the upper depends on that grease. Over time this dries out.
I just filled it with moly lube - saw some other guys pack it with gause (sp?) and 20 wt oil.
brian
-
Re: Stuff in distributor - what is it??
Thanks Brian!! Yep, that is the spot!! Great picture! You just happened to have that?!
I had purchased grease from Corvette Central that is called "distributor gear lube", and it was from GM and came in a small tube like a tiny toothpaste tube. I used to lube on the tach gears, lower bearing, upper bearing, and used the remainder of it in this well. I didn't see the small hole you mentioned, but I didn't really look either. So, do you think what I did is sufficient??Comment
-
Re: Stuff in distributor - what is it??
Tim,
Brian is correct. There is a small hole in the UPPER dist bushing which allows lubricant to weep through this hole and lube the shaft. After MANY years, the lube dries out and that crud is what is left. The lube in the tube which you bought is generally for lubing the cam for the breaker points. I don't know how good it would be for filling the grease well. For many years I have tried to find someone who knows exactly what the spec is for the grease that should be in this well. So, untill I find better info, I just pack it with a good chassis lube. Never have seen ANY problems as a result. I don't think the plastic cap and felt which covers the well are available from GM any more, but I have seen them advertised by the aftermarket sources. If you need a new plastic cap, and can't find one, I have several that I bought many years ago from Chev.Comment
-
Re: Stuff in distributor - what is it??
Jack Podell (the FI restorer) used to have some of the original type lube and probably knows the specs of the grease. Sorry I don't have a number for him but he advertises often in the Driveline.Comment
-
Re: Stuff in distributor - what is it??
The lubricant used might have been the 1960954, but I don't think it's available anymore. GM recommended it for starter motor and distributor bushings.
Lacking this, any general purpose grease should be okay from good 'ol white lithium up, but don't use wheel bearing grease - just a "general purpose" type grease.
Also, make a note to disassemble the distributor, inspect and clean it, and relube the upper bushing well and felt washer every 10 to 15 years.
The felt washer should be saturated with motor oil, then allowed to drain for a day before installing. It lubricates the breaker plate, which rotates under the command of the vacuum advance unit.
The felt washer can be ordered from Pep Boys or any other outlet that carries the Borg Warner brand - p/n DG12. My catalog doesn't show the plastic seal, , which is surprising, but if it isn't chewed up and fits snug it can be reused.
BTW, B-W also has the centrifugal advance limit bushing - DG3, distributor weighht pins - DG1, and an installation tool for the pins - DG2.
For HEIs they service the advance weight pivot bushings - DG13. If your HEI has more than 50K miles they are probably worn out. The felt washer is also used on HEI distributors to lubricant the stationary pole piece, which rotates under command of the vacuum advance.
DukeComment
-
Re: Stuff in distributor - what is it??
Duke,
The plastic seal is still available from GM (about a buck a piece).
...HNComment
-
Re: Stuff in distributor - what is it??
I just re-built this distributor for my 1967. I used white lithium grease on the main shaft, light machine oil on the felt and whatever was in the little tube that came with the points (?) on the points cam.
Comment
-
Re: Stuff in distributor - what is it??
Duke,
Do you or anyone think I need to pull the dist back out of the car and replace the lube that I put in with something else? Do I need to clean out the weep hole or make sure it is not blocked with old dried out lube? I cleaned the assembly quite well when I had it apart, but since I didn't know the hole was there I didn't specifically check it. I need to at least oil the felt washer anyway.Comment
-
Re: Stuff in distributor - what is it??
If you didn't oil the washer, I'd recommend going ahead and redoing the job. The second time is always quicker. Use white lithium or a general purpose chassis grease in the well (not wheel bearing grease), and make sure the feed hole is open. Also put a film of grease on the upper part of the shaft that rides in the bushing bore.
DukeComment
-
Re: Stuff in distributor - what is it??
testComment
Comment