'64 L84 Coil Bracket, Problem or not?

[Doug L.]

Hello experts,
I am assembling my engine and although I'm a long way from being able to start it I would still like to do as much assembly as I can while the body is off.

The problem (or not) is that the coil bracket is hard against the vacuum can of the distributor. The rotor is aligned on the #1 plug wire tower. I can rotate the distributor CCW which takes the vacuum can away from the coil bracket, but I won't be able to rotate it CW. If I move the coil bracket more towards the rear of the car to get clearance the ground clip on the top ignition cover doesn't touch the FI plenum. Do I have a problem here or am I missing something?

I also am afraid that the oil line to the distributor will prevent the rotation of the distributor. Does the line get removed and plugged temporarily while timing is set, then bent so it reaches on both ends?

Thanks-Doug

[Timothy B.]

Re: '64 L84 Coil Bracket, Problem or not?

Doug,

If you have not timed the car how do you know there is a problem.. When you set inital timing you may need to advance the timing and move the distributor CCW toward the plenum.

If it turns out to be a problem the lower gear may need to be turned 180* which will move the distributor 13* The correct orientation for the lower gear is for the dimple in the gear to line with the rotor tip but some aftermarket and repro cams require the gear turned 180 for the vacuum can to be near middle of travel.

[Dan H.]

Re: '64 L84 Coil Bracket, Problem or not?

Hi Doug, you really don't move the FI dist base, you loosen the band around the middle and the top only moves, oil line and base stay put. That will allow you to move the VAC away from the coil etc. If the motor is on # one cylinder, you must then check to see if your rotor aligns with # one plug wire in cap. See the AIM for correct wire positions for FI cap. Hopefully this gets you close, if not then it gets more involved.
Dan

[Doug L.]

Re: '64 L84 Coil Bracket, Problem or not?

Hi Tim, Dan,
I dont know if I have a problem. I will have to take another look at the distributor to see what Dan is talking about. Most distributors I have worked with are 1-piece units. You loosen the clamp and rotate the entire distributor.

Thanks for your information. Guess I need to cool it while I study some more and wait until I get around to the actual timing.

Best regards-Doug

[Michael H.]

Re: '64 L84 Coil Bracket, Problem or not?

Guess I need to cool it while I study some more and wait until I get around to the actual timing.

Best regards-Doug

[John D.]

Re: '64 L84 Coil Bracket, Problem or not?

Hi Doug, you really don't move the FI dist base, you loosen the band around the middle and the top only moves, oil line and base stay put. That will allow you to move the VAC away from the coil etc. If the motor is on # one cylinder, you must then check to see if your rotor aligns with # one plug wire in cap. See the AIM for correct wire positions for FI cap. Hopefully this gets you close, if not then it gets more involved.
Dan

DITTO. Good explanation Dan.
Doug, Did you get the email I sent you???
When you unloosen the cadmium plated clamp with a screwdriver you can then rotate the top as Dan said. If the top is a tad stubborn just smack it with a dead blow. The wire clamp that holds the distributor onto the baseplate doesn't come into play. Once the distributor is installed and the wireclamp is tightened you don't mess with it or the oil line.
Too bad GM didn't write a better 63 shop manual.

[Michael H.]

Re: '64 L84 Coil Bracket, Problem or not?

When you unloosen the cadmium plated clamp with a screwdriver .

Unloosen? Did you mean.. untighten?

[Doug L.]

Re: '64 L84 Coil Bracket, Problem or not?

Hi guys,




Thanks for all your advice. Doug

[John D.]

Re: '64 L84 Coil Bracket, Problem or not?

Unloosen? Did you mean.. untighten?

SWcorner of PA we say unloosen. In FL they say untighten

Meanwhile Mikey not being determental to my pal Doug here but you cannot believe how many people don't know they have to loosen the distr clamp to advance or retard.
It's no wonder because if you read the 63 shop manual on pages 6Y-26 to 6Y29 it's obvious the writer was confused as his directions are sometimes for a carb distr and other times for an FI distributor. Read page 6Y-29 titled: Engine Disturbed. #4. Info is incorrect for an FI distr but correct for a carb yet the author appears to be talking about an FI distr.
Go back to 6Y26. Distributor. #2. Disconnect Fi pump cables, etc.

The Corvette Servicing Guide ST. 12 manual.
See page 6Y-2 etc. #5. Loosen and spread breaker plate clamp (yuk) and slide breaker plate off distributor housing.
On the other hand reading further I see the info is not really there either.
The author is confused once again between carb and FI distributors.

Floyd Clymer has the info. Complete Owners Handbook Corvette V8 53 to 62. Pg 91. "Adjust timing as required by loosening distributor clamp band on FI model (distributors) and rotating distributor body, etc."

The best article I ever read was in "The Restorer" in the 70's. Fuel Injection Distributor Reconditioning by Gene H. Dressen. You old timers remember Gene. He was from ID. Is he still around? JD