Stromberg Distributor Question

[hueyhoolihan]

Originally Posted by busmania

Interesting. If you take the clip that holds the cap on, off, the 3rd bolt slides in no problem. Then put the clip back on. Then that bolt is there forever, even when you take the distributor off it just hangs out in the spot on the distributor.

I did not have the same wire issues and honestly am having a hard time following. I will re read.


Edit - re read again
Re rotor- that’s strange. Maybe the wrong one? I’ve ordered 3 stromberg rotors and all have fit no problem.
Re wires- sounds like something was sent wrong.

I don’t mean to defend this kit but I’ve had nothing but a positive experience with mine. Your review seems a little similar to the Amazon 1 star review that are like “the package arrived damaged” is that a problem? Absolutely but it doesn’t speak to the actual product. In my opinion, you were sent the wrong parts. Who did you order from?perhaps I’m wrong but the wrong size boots and wrong rotor don’t mean the stromberg itself is bad.

Not trying to be a dick but EVERY running problem I have had (and there’s been a few) that I post about on this forum everyone goes “it’s the stromberg, no doubt.” Guess what, not a single running issue ended up being stromberg related and mine is running strong. Your mileage may vary. Oh, one time I overheated my engine massively and the rotor metal piece detached from the plastic. Can I blame stromberg, sure, but their rotor
Probably isn’t designed to run in extremely overheated summer temps. I’m glad the rotor failed before the engine fried quite honestly.

Everyone can flame away, I’m ready to take it as an inexperienced hot rodder that happens to actually think their stromberg is running great. Got My stock crab waiting(that I bought the last time everyone thought my issues were stromberg related…turned out the brand new fuel pump with 4 miles on it was bad) in the wings for when the stromberg actually shits the bed.

Also, nothing you stated says the actual distributor is bad…unless I missed something? Aftermarket parts take some tweaking and refining (new plug boots). Nothing new. I may be a Flathead newbie but I’m no aftermarket parts newbie spanning several makes and over 30 years hobby experience.

yes, i agree, nothing i said says the actual distributor is bad except perhaps the rotor. it was intentional. the intent of the post was to point out why it's now on the shelf and the wires are in the trash.

please post a pic of your rotor and/or explain on how it attaches securely to the distributor shaft.

and it may help, if you post a pic of your e-fire performance sparkplug wires too. we may not have the same ones, as i suspect at one time they were plain black rubber.

[rich b]

What did Stromberg tech say about the problems.

[tubman]

I'm having a hard time believing that Stromberg would try to pass off such a shoddy piece of junk. Are you sure there is not someone out there passing off a second-rate clone as the real thing?

[hueyhoolihan]

i had posted a similar comment on a Stromberg sponsored Youtube channel that focused on the wires.

Stromberg replied and tried to support their product by making a specious argument that went like this:

We have used our braided wires on a number of projects including my own 383ci Chevy motor in a 1946 Ford Coupe. I agree that it is not as easy as with the plain wires, but the kit comes with all of the distributor cap boots and terminals installed. Some-one actually installed them on every kit. And they look pretty good.


this was my response:

the boots for use on the sparkplugs and those that the manufacturer managed to attach to the wires for use on the caps are different boots. and so it's of little importance to point out that a different boot was successfully applied to the other end of the wire during the manufacturing process.

and i'm sure that i can't, nor can anyone reasonably expect a purchaser to perform tasks on the wires that the manufacturer can.

i only hope for Stromberg's sake that that sort of argument or logic is not universally considered valid at Stromberg.

[Bored&Stroked]

RE: The rotor.

Sounds like the rotor didn't fit well . . . maybe you just needed another rotor?

I've worked on plenty of distributors and magnetos and most of the Ford/Chrysler type distributors (and most mags) do not have a metal clip inside the rotor and also didn't have any sort of "set screw" to hold them onto the shaft. Modern SBC/BBC distributors are a different breed of cat - they obviously had two screws to hold the rotor on.

The rotors on the non-GM distributors are typically designed to have a nice snug fit onto the shaft - with no additional internal clips or screws needed. If your rotor was loose and did not fit well, I'd be suspect of the rotor itself.

[hueyhoolihan]

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Originally Posted by rich b

What did Stromberg tech say about the problems.

stromberg tech was contacted by email. there was no animosity on my part, nor recriminations nor accusations, just the facts. and i purposely did not mention the issues i had with their e-fire sparkplug wire kit ). here is a copy of their e-mail response:

"Hi Huey,
Sorry to hear about this issue
We do check everything before they go out. Please check it is seated down properly. They have little ribs in the plastic which are an interference fit with the shaft.
Let me know if you have no luck.
All the best
Clive"

i responded with an email thanking them for a response and that i'd check the fit again.

today i sent stromberg another email inclosing a link to a youtube video i created demonstrating the rotor's looseness ( https://www.youtube.com/shorts/9O5pJXAXzFg ) with text requesting their opinion as to the looseness.

more to come...

[hueyhoolihan]

they are sending me a new rotor... let's just say i'm not convinced that this will fix the problem. and in addition...

what they should do, for a company as large as this, and problem that clearly may be a quality control issue, would be to send an entire new unit. and verify that the rotor fits the shaft before they send it to me. then contact the retailer (Lucky's Speedshop) and verify that their inventory meets Stromberg's quality control standards.

but rather, they've chosen to possibly waste my time and further irritate a customer, with another rotor in the hope that it will work, just in order to save a few bucks. very, very short-sighted IMO.

[Pech33]

Here’s my efire and my Diver’s Helmet . One works! My efire backfired above idle, put Skip Haney diver’s helmet back on. The explanation about fitting the plug wires into the boots is just about what I experienced. I would like to fool around with the efire . . . but why? My rotor fits snugly on the efire, there are two raised portions inside the rotor, pushes on securely. That’s not my problem.

[hueyhoolihan]

this is the email i received from Stromberg today, after they had received and viewed my video WRT rotor fitment....

"I just checked the video and I can see you need a replacement.
Send your shipping address and phone number and we can get one straight out to you.
Thanks for taking the trouble to make the video.
All the best
Clive

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by Pech33

Here’s my efire and my Diver’s Helmet . One works! My efire backfired above idle, put Skip Haney diver’s helmet back on. The explanation about fitting the plug wires into the boots is just about what I experienced. I would like to fool around with the efire . . . but why? My rotor fits snugly on the efire, there are two raised portions inside the rotor, pushes on securely. That’s not my problem.

[hueyhoolihan]

Originally Posted by hueyhoolihan

they are sending me a new rotor... let's just say i'm not convinced that this will fix the problem. and in addition...

what they should do, for a company as large as this, and problem that clearly may be a quality control issue, would be to send an entire new unit. and verify that the rotor fits the shaft before they send it to me. then contact the retailer (Lucky's Speedshop) and verify that their inventory meets Stromberg's quality control standards.

but rather, they've chosen to possibly waste my time and further irritate a customer, with another rotor in the hope that it will work, just in order to save a few bucks. very, very short-sighted IMO.

i received the new rotor that was sent with an intent to fix the problem.

it did not fix the problem. the new rotor is identical in all respects to the one i had. the hole that fits over the distributor's shaft is just too large.

i anticipated this...and have just sent customer service and email requesting an entirely new unit. and added that it be beneficial if they were to verify that the rotor fit on the shaft correctly and securely before mailing.

needless to say (...taking a big breath here...) i'm not pleased...

[hueyhoolihan]

this is a copy of the email i sent to Stromberg today:

clive,

i received the replacement rotor today. it does not fit either. the problem is the same as that in the video i sent you.. it's too big for the shaft.

so at this time, i think a replacement unit that has had the rotor verified to fit the shaft is in order. if you want the old one back, please include a pre-paid shipping label and i'll return it in the packaging used to send the replacement, including the replacement rotor.

regards,

huey


this is a copy of their response to the email:

Hi Huey,

As I said before, all of our rotors and shafts are made in quantity to the same consistent sizes. We never have a problem with fit, yet you seem to have a problem with whatever you try.

You are welcome to ship it to us to check it out at any time. After being caught out many many times, we never send out any parts without receiving the return first. I don’t know of any other company who does different. It’s all in our warranty statement.

regards

Clive

[ford38v8]

Huey, your posting about your problems with Stromberg are like preaching to the choir. I’m sure you must remember being advised to stick with original Ford parts, and of reading similar advice to others. You’re not alone in your displeasure with offshore replacement parts, but many of us have learned from the mistakes of others. Here’s hoping you can shrug it off to the learning experience and enjoy the hobby after all.