c2 Distributor

[Wayne M.]

Re: c2 Distributor

Wayne, Is there supposed to be a felt like washer inside the breaker point plate where the weight base cam spins. I am aware of the felt washer under but I seem to recall one inside also.

Tim -- you've got me on this one ! I've never been able to figure out why there is a "cup" on the topside of the breaker plate [see thumbnail pic], with 3 holes that touch the felt washer directly underneath. If not for oiling [so that the advance movement doesn't bind on the outside of the upper brass bushing], then what ?

I can understand the plastic seal which retains the "proper compound" (sawdust ?) that is in the lubricating cavity of the housing. 1966 Chassis service manual says "at time of overhaul, the upper bushing may be lubricated by removing the plastic seal and ading SAE 20 oil to the packing in the cavity -- install new plastic seal".

No mention of lubricating the felt washer. Is the purpose of the felt to ABSORB any oil that may get past the plastic seal and foul the points ?
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Another distributor lubricating question -- the square felt wick that contacts the cam lobe; is it to just touch at the high point (ie. at one of the corners) or on the flat between the lobe corners ?

[Tom P.]

Re: c2 Distributor

The ONLY felt "washer" that I've ever seen (I've been into MANY distributors) in the 57-later style distributors (55-6 and early dual point is different) is the one which lays in the plastic seal that is on top of the cavity at the upper part of the housing (BOTH alum and iron housings).
Furthermore, to this day, I have never found anyone who can tell me what is the proper material/lubricant to put into this cavity. When a dist is totally disassembled and cleaned (and blasted if rusty), this cavity is cleaned out. Thus, I've been packing this cavity with a thick grease (such as chassis grease) with no apparent problems occuring later on. When I reassemble a dist, I saturate the felt washer with lube.

[Timothy B.]

Re: c2 Distributor

Thanks for the replys Wayne and Tom. The reason I ask is because I have one apart that's going to take three .030 shims to remove play. I can almost remember that felt inside the cup but I am not positive. This would reduce up/down play resulting in less shims.

Buy the way, this distributor did not have a ground wire because it had a Mallory switch which had it's own dedicated ground wire. My friend installed the Petronics 3 and called me because the engine would not time properly. Timing 30* advanced then retarded ???? I could not figure it out, so I took the distributor home to see if I screwed anything up when I recurved it a few years ago.

I could not find anything wrong with my work, stayed awake durning the night thinking about this and the next morning I noticed the missing ground wire. Boy, you talk about a engine running funny, I actually was thinking broken crankshaft or loose balancer. I will install back in his car this weekend with a different breaker plate and new ground wire, hope all goes well.

I called Petronics and the tech just laughed and remarked, "yea, with no ground wire the engine will do strange things and every time the ground is broken the switch resets itself and skips three cylinders".

I am now added to the list of people that have been stung by the no/bad distributor ground wire problem.