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Posted by: r_towle Apr 23 2007, 04:23 PM

Dizzy Cleaning Distributor removal

Hi,
I wanted to pull this out and make a unique thread for it so I dont have to keep typing it..

and now it should be easier to find with the search tool

So, your car is running god, but when it gets hot...its starts to do lots of different stuff, lacks power, wont start when hot, back fired when decel, wont hold idle...

This is not a cure all for everything...it is just something that costs next to nothing and really NEEDS to be done every 30 or so years...damn these cars are old, and the distributors in some have never been removed.

So, a couple of things to remember, you cannot put a distributor back in the car 90 or 180 degrees wrong, unless you also remove the distributor drive gear and put that in wrong also...so stay calm...it will be fine, you can only put a distributor in one way...the right way..its the only way it will fit in the hole and set down all the way...

Keep track of the wires, take pictures so you get the wiring correct when you re-install.

Please clean the motor very well in this area...

Here is my suggestion.
Trust me, it costs less than five cents.

Please pay close attention as you do this so you dont drop anything.

Remove the dist cap
Look at were the vacuum pot is pointing and memorize the location of the distributor.
Now, we are going to remove it.

Take the one or two vacuum lines off the distributor, mark them if there are two, its easy to forget.
Now unplug the FI trigger point, and unplug the lead that goes to the coil.
Loosen the 10 adjuster that allows you to rotate the distributor, and turn the distributor clockwise till you can see the 13mm nut that clamps the distributor down.

Now, go get a good light, some rags, screw driver, popsicle stick..whatever you need.

Clean the whole area around that nut, and around the base of the distibutor so you can eat off of it.
Make sure there is no dirt present.
Loosen the nut, and remove it from the engine bay (trust me, just do it)
Look for the washer that was under the nut and remove it from the engine bay..(again trust me)

Now pull out the distributor, try to remember the current position, or you can twist it back to its permanent location so you only need to remember one visual...then pull it out.

Now its out.
Take it to a clean bench and clean all the rest of the crud off.
Two screws take out the FI trigger points, do that and set them aside.
Take out the screw that holds the condensor, set them aside.
Remove the set of points.

Now if its like mine it has two clamps still screwed in, though I have seen them use one clamp to hold the condensor also..whatever.

Take out the two screws that hold the cap clamps, and notice that they are threaded into the advance plates inside the distributor, take a pic if needed so you orient that plate correctly on the way back in.

There set the screws and clamps aside.

Now there are two plates, hooked to the vacuum advance pot, and they are also joined together, with a very small ball bearing in between.

You want to take these two plates out, clean the shit out of them, clean the ball bearing, and re-grease in between the plates.
There is a some funky old grease in there that actually makes the plates hard to move when it gets hot.
This resistance causes some really odd behaviour, and is a simple fix.

Now, put it all back together, blow all the crap out of the lower areas, and in the FI trigger point area...
Inspect and test the trigger points, but for not, do not replace them.

Put it together, with new grease, not so much that it will splatter when the plates spin, but enough to let them now move freely.

Put it back in the car after you are done.

Word of caution.
Put the distributor back in , it should be the only thing in your hands, and the only thing you focus on for that few seconds, after its in, then and only then reach for the washer and nut that hold it down.
That hole is not easy to fish things out of.

Rich

Posted by: Gint Apr 23 2007, 05:40 PM

Why not submit this as a tech article? Got pics?

Posted by: toon1 Apr 23 2007, 06:06 PM

I dissasembled, cleaned and reassembled a dist. about a year ago. Thouhgt it would ba a good thread for the classics, everyone said no, so I didn't bother documenting it. Guess I should have, it seems to be of interest.

Posted by: r_towle Apr 23 2007, 06:42 PM

no pics,
I dont think that all helpful articles need pics..
most of it is explained..

Rich

Posted by: 914nerd Apr 23 2007, 06:44 PM

I also think that this should head over into the classics
Useful information

Posted by: smontanaro Apr 23 2007, 06:49 PM

Is anything here particular to specific types of distributors (asks Skip who has a Marelli on his /6)? If so, it might be worth adding that info.

Skip

Posted by: RoadGlue Apr 23 2007, 06:50 PM

Here are some of the dirty dirty dirty parts:

Posted by: r_towle Apr 23 2007, 07:02 PM

I am certain that this could be done really formally, and all the possible distributor models could be lists, but I have no idea what those may be...

I was just trying to make the thread searchable via the search engine...so I put it in its own thread with some logical title naming, and a few other key words at the top...thats all..

Feel free to add whatever you guys want..it was purely meant to be a simple smack upside the head saying...hey, before you replace the MPS, or ECU...try cleaning the 35 year old distributor...

Rich

Posted by: 41ghost Apr 23 2007, 07:36 PM

why use them , they just get in the way.


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Posted by: Garland Nov 27 2015, 08:35 AM

Any recommendations for grease to use inside the disy on the shaft where the FI rubs?

Posted by: Rob-O Nov 28 2015, 08:46 AM

Geez, it's two days after Thanksgiving, fellas. Can't we all just say "thanks for the great info and for putting this together"?

Posted by: Rob-O Nov 28 2015, 08:47 AM

So do hex bar linkages...

Posted by: r_towle Nov 28 2015, 09:55 AM

Just put this up as a link in another thread for someone who needed it.

Rmital did a better thread but I could n find it.
He posted pics and everything....for those who cannot read.

Posted by: ctc911ctc Apr 15 2019, 07:09 PM

I want to thank you for putting this up so the "search engines can find it", I search for everything within 914W from Google, found exactly what I was looking for!

The cleaning will start tomorrow!

Posted by: cary Apr 22 2020, 10:16 PM

Thanks Rich I need to do 3 or 4 of them.
Any preference on lube or grease ?

Posted by: Archie Mar 30 2021, 06:10 PM

Thanks a bunch for this. Rich. Even I could understand it!

Posted by: r_towle Mar 30 2021, 08:41 PM

There is a need fir so little grease, I just use wheel bearing grease.
This is all about cleaning off 50 year old grease.