Distributor (F head)

Hey everyone...

I just got done tearing the motor apart on the 55' I got and had a quick distributor question. The distributor is extremely tight, meaning...in order for me to get it to spin I literally have to hold the oil pump slot (drive) at the end of the shaft with a pair of plyers and physically twist the top of the distributor to get it to turn. I assume this is not normal because it 20 years of working on cars I've never seen a distributor in anything not be able to spin pretty freely - then again - I've never done anything with one of these engines. Is there a shaft bushing or something inside the distributor that's shot or is this completely normal? The rest of the distributor functions fine, but I can't see this being normal....or is it?

 

If it has been sitting for a long time it has probably rusted up. They should turn very freely same as any dist. Spray it with PB Blaster and let set for day or two. Had it been running that way? Hope not for long as would cause undue wear and/or breakage.

 

Has anyone used this retro distributor from Kaiser Willys before? Doesn't seem like a bad deal to swap out points. I plan on running an MSD box with it.

http://www.kaiserwillys.com/product/1100/willys_electricaldistributors

 

I've had good luck with this one:

http://www.walcks4wd.com/Product/Distributor-assy-12V-electroni/2667

 

I am running the point type version of the one in EricM photo, so far so good.

 

Comparable in price putting the pertronix unit into an original distributor.:hurrican:

 

I took mine apart, pressed out the old bushings and pressed in some new oiled bronze ones. I had the opposite of your trouble, mine was wobbling around enough to break rotors. Picked them up for less than $10 at a bearing supply place. Nice because they were longer than the old ones thus riding in a new location of the shaft. Problem (yours or mine) solved and you get to keep your original distributor. If your shaft isn't buggered you might have a crack at it.
Ken

 

I have the same on as EricM too and it works great. The cap and rotor for it is different than the stock one from my '56. It seems the cap and rotor changed sometime in the 60's. I was able to get the replacement from walcks too, it's just the later model.

Mine was also stuck like yours, and it was a bit concerning to force it to turn. Once I got it out and lubed up again it moved freely like any other distributer I have adjusted.