Okay being more of an interior/paint/waxing expert, here is what I am faced with when I pop the cap off. My aim is to clean up the distributor advance weights and springs and lubricate as recommended. In all likelihood these have never seen the light of day in 30 plus years. Stepwise how should I remove the rotor and shielding to get at the weights? Also I believe this car still has the radio shielding covering the points. How does this come off? I believe you can see screws on the top of the rotor and a horizontal screw as well as a vertical bolt? on the shielding. How will the weights/springs come off? Thanks again to all for the help in maintaining this old car.
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Re: Advance weights distributor C3
You have the right idea, don't lose the two screws that retain the shield over the points and condensor. Unipoints will not fit under the shield. With the rotor off, remove the springs and the advance weights can be removed and pivot points and weights can be cleaned and lubricated. What to use for lubrication? I have been using from a tube of Blue Streak point block lubrication I have had for a long time. If you really want to service the distrubutor, remove it and clean the lubrication well and install new lubricant and clean and lubricate the tach drive housing and gear. -
Re: Advance weights distributor C3
The weights and springs are directly under the rotor. Take the two screws out of the rotor, remove it, and the weights are right there, along with the springs. Once you remove the springs, the weights just lift off.Joel Adams
1974 Coupe
1985 Coupe
"I know the voices aren't real...but sometimes they have some really kewl ideas...."
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Re: Advance weights distributor C3
Charles-----
As others have described, removal of the rotor, shield, springs, and weights is quite easy and as described. Be careful that you not only don't lose the screws for the shields, but also that you don't lose the springs. These can "scoot" away pretty easily when you remove them. Trying to obtain another exact replacement spring can be a real problem. These have all been discontinued by GM for years and are not reproduced (at least, not reproduced in exact duplicates of the originals).In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: Advance weights distributor C3
Did all corvettes use that sheild thingy over the points??? I have never seen that before in use. I have been aware of them but, never seen one installed. Did 68 use them?? Thanks, TerryComment
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Re: Advance weights distributor C3
Terry-----
No, they were not originally installed on 1968 Corvettes. However, some 1968 SERVICE distributors, manufactured later, had them. These shields cam into PRODUCTION use about 1970 and were used through 1974.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: Advance weights distributor C3
I believe I worked on a passenger car once as a kid and found one of those shields in my way. Thanks, Joe. I really don't want to buy any more parts for my car if I can help it. TerryComment
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Re: Advance weights distributor C3
Passenger cars used the shields about the time they went to the radio antenna being imbedded in the windshield.Bill Clupper #618Comment
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Re: Advance weights distributor C3
Ineresting. I recall people complaining about them and tossing them in the trash Time for work. See ya, TerryComment
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Re: Advance weights distributor C3
Okay here is a picture of the distributor with the rotor removed and the weights and springs off. Not pictured are the weights which have a thin coating of surface rust. I cleaned off the gunk for the picture. Do I remove the top bar or stop here and reinstall the weights and springs? Nothing else seems to want to come off, at least not without prying. Thanks.
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Re: Advance weights distributor C3
Do not pry on anything.
You started out to only clean and lube the mechanical advance mechanism. You have dissassembled things enought to finish that. Go VERY light on the lube: thin film of light grease at the pivots and the buttons under the weights.
You could replace points and condensor if needed after removing the shield.
Any further dissassembly requires removing the distributor from the engine. Not a bad idea if you want to do a complete rebuild / endplay adjustment / tach drive lube. Not a good idea if you are not yet schooled or equiped to reset timing. This is fairly simple to do but it depends on your desire to learn. Lots of tips on this are in the archives and many here will step you through the process if you so desire.Comment
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Re: Advance weights distributor C3
Okay the weights were cleaned until they are now a gray/black again. I then lubricated them with a thin coat or aeroplate which is a white grease and the pivot points. I reinstalled the springs, rotor and cap and she fired right up and is idling smooth. Road test later today. Thanks to Jack H. and all that have helped with this.Comment
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YES! Plus a word of caution...
The distributor internal shield came into being in lock-step with Chevy offering the option of a radio antenna embedded in the windshield glass. Designers thought it was unnecessary to apply the shield to Corvette (radio equipped cars already shipped with full external shielding)....
But, on evaluation, they discovered they could eliminate the discrete external shields on the front two spark plug banks with the extra shielding inside the distributor cap allowing an overall cost reduction!
On the word of caution, Joe Lucia and others have commented about being careful not to drop shield attaching screws + advance weight springs down onto the distributor as they can quickly migrate beneath the breaker plate resulting in extra labor to R&R the distributor to extract/retrieve the lost parts.
When you have the ignition shields off, turn them over and visually inspect the bottom side of the shields. Factory originals came with small ID labels affixed to the bottom side with self-adhesive backing. This was NOT a good idea!
When the adhesive dries out (most originals are at this point in time), the label can fall off and 'wander' around inside your distributor. We've seen situations where the stupid label wound up strategically placed between contact points as well as situation where the darn thing wandered beneath the breaker plate and 'gummed' up the distributor shaft.
So, if you insist on keeping your factory shields 100% original with the label in place, re-glue it! Or, if it's looking old and appears loose, remove and discard the label to obviate the potential for future problems...Comment
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Re: Advance weights distributor C3
Charles-----
There's no way to remove the "top bar" (the automatic cam) without removing the mainshaft from the distributor. To do that, you have to remove the distributor from the car.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: Advance weights distributor C3
Charles,
While you're in there, make sure that the 2 round, raised areas that the weights slide on, are smooth as a baby's kiester. Use fine emory or crocus cloth, carefully de-burr, then apply a very small dab of white lithium/lubriplate to each. Most importantly, check for the presence of the nylon bushing on the advance slot pin. Reference part #6 shown in attached schematic.
Be sure to check your timing "curve" with either a degree tape installed on your harmonic balancer, or a setback timing light.
Joe
http://www.licorvette.com/pdfcatalogfiles/cat/48.PComment
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