Will a rebuild fix side to side play in my distributor?

R

RKH

New member
I have a 78 sii, 345, 727 with the prestolite points distributor. It has a lot of up & down play, but also a lot of side to side play. Iirc it was more than 0.006. If I move the shaft up, there is no side to side movement. But, of course, it won't stay up.

I took it to a mechanic. He leaned out the carb to get it to run better, but when he saw the side to side play, he said I needed a new distributor. I got it home (running like crap the whole way), but them it wouldn't start. I changed the points/condensor, but couldn't get the gap closer than 0.025. I don't have spark at the plugs. My manual only covers elec ignition, but after testing (and I'm not good at this) I believe I have voltage going to the distributor cap from the coil.

I went to a local speed shop, but he said he couldn't order a distributor. He said I could install a pertronix & it would work even with the side to side play. I'm basically learning as I go, but that doesn't sound like it would work to me.

I would love to have electronic ignition, but don't want to spend the money if it's not going to fix my problem.
 
Yes a good rebuild will fix the side to side play. That is a re-builder who re-bushes the housing and dresses the undersized shaft. Could be expensive.

Pertronix is less sensitive to small changes in gap and it is by far a better switch then points. The play May effect the pertronix module but I doubt you would notice it.

In a perfect world we would like to rebuild the mechanicals of the distributer and install a p-tron but unfortunately money is at play here. I would recommend a pertronix upgrade and run it for another 100k miles. Make sure the advance is working well too.

I had a re-builder in my area but he is not taking any new work at the moment.
 
Thank you for the information. I will go with the pertronix.

I think I read the pertronix air gap is supposed to 0.030. Should I put the 0.030 in the middle of my side to side play? I guess what I'm saying is if I measure the movement at 0.010 should I set the gap to be 0.025-0.035 with the side to side play?

Thanks again.
 
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Probably a sound idea. Set the gap so nominal is at .030 when factoring the play. You can set the end play while your at it.
 
I don't know how to set end play :confused5:

if the pertronix doesn't have directions on how to do it, I'll just add it to the list of things I ned to look up :p
 
Be sure to either get a pertronix II or iii to avoid the issue with module failure due to leaving the ignition in run position with the engine off. Lots of "why me?" posts about that.
 
dkminors said:
be sure to either get a pertronix II or iii to avoid the issue with module failure due to leaving the ignition in run position with the engine off. Lots of "why me?" posts about that.
Click to expand...

Apparently they don't make the pertronix 2 or 3 for the prestolite dist.

Why the price difference & will the 76 work on my 78?
 
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I had looked at ur website for other parts, but didn't think about it with the pertronix.

I decided I didn't want the pertronix 1 because of the possibility of burning it out and they don't make the pertronix 2 or 3 for the prestolite.
 
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If you're going to run points, it won't matter if you run a Holley/ delco or prestolite. They all have one wire that connects to the neg coil terminal. The store has a Holley points unit for $168.00. Just ask Jeff if the prestilite core will do in place of the Holley. I think he could work it out with you.


I have edited all of your posts that referanced other vendor's and there prices. You can buy from whoever you want but please refrain from posting this kind of information here in the future.
Thanks for your understanding..... Ihon
 
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I understand. I wasn't really thinking from a business stand point about other vendors & being on ur forum. Won't happen again.

But, I just got this creepy 1984 feeling run down my spine :eek6:
 
rkh said:
I understand. I wasn't really thinking from a business stand point about other vendors & being on ur forum. Won't happen again.

But, I just got this creepy 1984 feeling run down my spine :eek6:
Click to expand...

No big, most don't realize it so we just let people know. We want to help and try to keep it between the lines. :smilewinkgrin:
 
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