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1966 Cj5 Distributor

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by happy7, Jan 11, 2020.

  1. Jan 11, 2020
    happy7

    happy7 New Member

    arkansas
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    I have a 1966 cj5 with the six cylinder. It has not been driven for many years and my son and I have been trying to get it going for him. We have had a lot to do: wiring brakes, missing lights, new seats, seat belts, etc. It is about ready to go, but still does not run well. It is especially hard to start when cold. The vacuum advance was non functional, so I have been trying to figure out the best solution. I studied on putting in an HEI, but kept reading about how the gear on the distributor can ruin a gear in the motor, which put me off of that idea, at least until I can get better info. Finally, I just bought a new vacuum advance and installed it. However, I'm having a couple issues getting the distributor back together. I have spent a lot of time searching for answers but finally decided to post.

    The wire that goes from the vacuum advance to the distributor (looks like it might be a ground wire) is broken and scorched and needs to be replaced. It was crimped in place. I'm not sure how to replace that. Can I just solder it to the plate? or maybe drill can tap the distributor plate and screw it on?

    I cannot find a good tutorial on how to reinstall and set the points, something I have never done.

    I have read a lot about the oddities of the odd fire distributor. However, a lot of the pictures that might have been helpful in identifying what distributor I have are no longer available to view. The points and distributor cap are one of the few things on the jeep that looked newish. But I am wondering if they are the right ones, especially seeing as the distributor is numbered, but the numbers identifying the leads rotate in the opposite direction of what they are supposed to. I am going to post some pictures and if someone would be able to identify which distributor we have and if the parts are the right ones for this engine, that would be a big help.
     
  2. Jan 11, 2020
    happy7

    happy7 New Member

    arkansas
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  3. Jan 11, 2020
    happy7

    happy7 New Member

    arkansas
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    pictures of the distributor cap
     

    Attached Files:

  4. Jan 11, 2020
    happy7

    happy7 New Member

    arkansas
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    a picture of the flats on the shaft.
     

    Attached Files:

  5. Jan 11, 2020
    happy7

    happy7 New Member

    arkansas
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    The broken grounding wire and rotor.
     

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  6. Jan 11, 2020
    Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

    WA
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    Can you post some pictures of the cap?
     
  7. Jan 11, 2020
    happy7

    happy7 New Member

    arkansas
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    See post number 3, two pictures of the cap.
     
  8. Jan 11, 2020
    fhoehle

    fhoehle Sponsor

    Harford Township, PA
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    I think I have that same distributor. I converted it to Pertronix years ago. It's been a good setup. I recently ordered a HEI distributor from southwestperformance.com. it was cheap Chinese junk and it was defective right out of the box. They did refund my money at least. I went back to the old Delco/Pertronix setup, and I will continue to do so as I don't want to spend the money for a DUI distributor.
     
  9. Jan 11, 2020
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    The only possibilities are Delco or Prestolite. This is a Delco (GM) distributor. The tin door in the cap and the hex key adjustment of the points is Delco. The flats on the shaft look right for an odd-fire distributor. Since the firing angle (dwell) changes between alternating cylinders, you should see one wide face on the cam, followed by a shorter face, then wide, then short, etc.

    I suspect there exist no even-fire points distributors for the 225. Didn't GM go HEI before the 231 changed to even fire?

    Realize that you can install the odd-fire distributor out-of-phase, so that the short face of the cam faces the points for a cylinder that has the larger firing angle. This has been covered a lot in older posts - search.

    I don't know where the mystery wire goes. There is only one circuit, through the green wire and then to ground in the distributor body. The advance plate that the points mount to will move as the advance weights swing outward with centrifugal force from the rotating shaft, or by pull from the vacuum advance can. There could be a jumper from the advance plate to the distributor body, ensuring that the advance plate is always well grounded. Likely it will work without it, but GM put it there for a reason.
     
  10. Jan 11, 2020
    Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

    WA
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    I was wanting to see a label or some have a little window.
     
  11. Jan 11, 2020
    maurywhurt

    maurywhurt Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Western North...
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    If I understand your questions correctly, these photos of a newly rebuilt Delco distributor may be helpful to understanding how to properly reinstall the points and condenser. I've rotated it so you can see it from several angles.

    Incidentally, this Delco was rebuilt by Advanced Distributors in Shakopee, MN. It will soon be installed on my brother-in-law's newly built Dauntless.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]


    If memory serves correctly, on the Dauntless the point gap you're shooting for, i.e. when they are open and sitting on top of one of the high lobes on the distributor cam, is .016 inches.

    This video shows how to set the point gap with a feeler gauge on a Delco after they're installed on the distributor (starting at 1:48 to about 4:00):

     
    Last edited: Jan 12, 2020
    Focker likes this.
  12. Jan 11, 2020
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    So does the OP have the right points set? The distributor Maury posted pictures of has a separate condenser. The points set in the OP's pictures has the condenser mounted on the points base ... is this right for the 225?
     
  13. Jan 11, 2020
    wheelie

    wheelie beeg dummy 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    York, PA
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    tim said...

    "I suspect there exist no even-fire points distributors for the 225. Didn't GM go HEI before the 231 changed to even fire?"

    This is true to the best of my knowledge.
     
  14. Jan 11, 2020
    maurywhurt

    maurywhurt Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    That's a good question, Tim.

    I'd just assumed it was a different style of points for the Delco that incorporates the condenser - but maybe it’s the wrong set altogether (or maybe it fits a Prestolite distributor?)
     
    Last edited: Jan 11, 2020
  15. Jan 11, 2020
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Looks like a perfect time to ditch the points now and install a petronix setup.
     
  16. Jan 11, 2020
    Walt Couch

    Walt Couch sidehill Cordele, Ga. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    The points the OP is showing is the GM UNI-SET points and is a direct replacement for the separate point / condenser setup.
     
  17. Jan 11, 2020
    maurywhurt

    maurywhurt Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Western North...
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    I found these pics online showing how the UniSet style of integrated points & condenser is installed on Delco distributors (the first photo shows one without a vacuum advance):

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Jan 11, 2020
  18. Jan 11, 2020
    happy7

    happy7 New Member

    arkansas
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    Those pictures help a lot. Maurywhurt, am I seeing correctly that the black wire that is screwed to the vacuum advance is soldered to the distributor? I am asking about the method of attachment. Solder?
     
  19. Jan 11, 2020
    maurywhurt

    maurywhurt Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    It does appear that the other end of the black wire that's connected to the vacuum advance is soldered to the distributor body - here's an enlargement of that area of the photo:

    [​IMG]
     
  20. Jan 11, 2020
    Keys5a

    Keys5a Sponsor

    Florida Keys
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    Delco uniset points came out in the early 70s I think. They just eliminate the extra screw for the condensor, and can be interchanged with any 2-piece points/condensor set as long as the distributor cap has an adjusting window.
    I haven't used a uniset assembly for years, but remember the out-of-the-box settings were never close enough the even start the engine.
    -Donny
     
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