|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
07-02-2014, 04:12 PM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Glenmoore Pa
Posts: 1,644
|
1973 302 Distributor question possible problem
Alright guys 1973 is a little out of my normal expertise zone so bear with me. Im going over this little car (Maverick) to give it a tune up and carb clean and found the upper distributor plate seems to move a lot. By a lot I mean I can push it side to side and it seems in my mind like that would effect the point gap. Are they supposed to move that much? I can see why it would move in order for the vacuum advance to work but this seems excessive.
|
07-02-2014, 07:13 PM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Mansfield, Ohio
Posts: 409
|
Re: 1973 302 Distributor question possible problem
If the diaphragm in the vacuum advance was bad, you may be able to move the plate very easily.
|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|
07-03-2014, 06:42 AM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Orange Park, Fl
Posts: 406
|
Re: 1973 302 Distributor question possible problem
1973 should be electronic, so that there are no points, but it can affect the timing. It should not have lateral play and should not have easy rotational movement. Seems you are due for a repair or rebuilt replacement.
|
07-03-2014, 08:22 AM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: St. Michael, Minnesota
Posts: 1,713
|
Re: 1973 302 Distributor question possible problem
It should not move side to side at all. If you see where the advance can hooks up, look opposite for the pivot point. It should move on that pivot when the advance can move it under vacuum. It may work better with a good cleaning and some light grease on the plastic buttons and the pivot points.
|
12-12-2014, 11:38 AM | #5 |
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Watertown MN
Posts: 1
|
Re: 1973 302 Distributor question possible problem
Hi, I have found on the ford dust. The pin under the plate or spring has broke !! I had a machinist make a new one and drill and tap the pin thread lock in a screw and good to go!!
|
12-12-2014, 01:41 PM | #6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Phoenix,AZ
Posts: 1,417
|
Re: 1973 302 Distributor question possible problem
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
|
12-12-2014, 01:53 PM | #7 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 293
|
Re: 1973 302 Distributor question possible problem
Quote:
|
|
12-12-2014, 02:16 PM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Glenmoore Pa
Posts: 1,644
|
Re: 1973 302 Distributor question possible problem
I bought a brand new complete oem replacement distributor for about $70. Problem solved.
|
12-12-2014, 04:29 PM | #9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Detroit suburb, MI
Posts: 3,698
|
Re: 1973 302 Distributor question possible problem
|
12-12-2014, 06:06 PM | #10 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: SPEEDWAY INDIANA
Posts: 4,148
|
Re: 1973 302 Distributor question possible problem
Quote:
Its very common for the point plate ( breaker plate) to wear at the vacuum advance arm and allow sloppy advance from the vac unit. The fix is pretty easy as napa sells both the vacuum unit and the new breaker plate for these distributors. If ya cant get it pm me and i can get you the part numbers from napa. Or you could send it in for a rebuild and tune up if ya wish... |
|
12-12-2014, 07:41 PM | #11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Kingman Az. 86409
Posts: 419
|
Re: 1973 302 Distributor question possible problem
I've replaced 100's of breaker plates in Fords back in the 70's. The pivot on the plate used to break all the time. If I recall correctly there was even a service program or even a recall on them. If the plate wasn't broken at the pivot you put this goofy clip on it. You could break the pivot by just pushing down too hard to remove the points.
__________________
Dan Kingman Az. 86409 |
12-13-2014, 01:50 AM | #12 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Phoenix,AZ
Posts: 1,417
|
Re: 1973 302 Distributor question possible problem
The ignition curve is controlled by the use of springs and weights within the distributor as the Muscle Car era met it's end we saw the dawn of unleaded gas,lower compression ratios and and retarded timing to reduce emissions,retarding lowers performance and NOX emissions as explained here: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/ignition-system1.htm If you want to retain the stock look distributor and get the performance back then Bubba's the man you should contact.
|
12-13-2014, 06:46 PM | #13 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Black Hills, SD
Posts: 577
|
Re: 1973 302 Distributor question possible problem
While not completely stock appearing under the hood, I have used the Durasparkll distributor with the higher energy efi coil and a GM module (hid in a heat sink somewhere) for a very snappy ignition. With a little scrounging, you can do it near free. That's my alternative to looking at a fugly GM HEI on a Ford.
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|