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distributor shaft wear/slop

S

SDE

Well-known Member
I have a 400 that has a very smooth running engine. My other 400 is not as smooth. The neighbor's 450 isn't as smooth either. His distributor shaft moves in and out more than I think it should move. How much end play is too much? I can put an indicator on the shaft and check for side play also. How much is acceptable and also too much? I need to order parts for a Ford and will add the rebuild kit to that order if the slop is too much.
TY
SDE
 
ENd play is not very important. The side to side, and up and down play is critical. If you can feel/see it, it is too much. .001" is about all that can be there without changing the individual cylinder timing by large amounts. Jim
 
Thank you Jim. I saw that the kit had some spacers in it that must have been for adjusting the end play, and that is why I asked about it.
TY
SDE
 
After installing a distributor shaft drive gear and pin the shaft should have .003 to .009 end play. Not directly related to end play felt at point cam shaft. It is a separate shaft that advance springs connect it to the distributor rotor shaft. A weight guard will let the cam shaft move up and down a little other than movement of the rotor shaft. most times with distributor cap installed the rotor will keep the shaft from moving toward rear. Reason to keep the endplay of the distributor shaft limited is the weight guard under the breaker point plate can come up and rub the breaker plate. Have found them rubbed until they distort and the advance parts can't work correct. longer screw put in the breaker plate can damage the weight guard also. If thinking the distributor is the cause of uneven running. Remove the distributor and the breaker plate. Check weight pins for being loose or worn, holes wallowed out, springs being good, advance limit hole or slot worn long, play of cam bushings where it slides down over the main distributor shaft. lubrication between most parts mentioned.
 
It appears that there is much more to a distributor than I had thought that there would be. I do not want to open any of mine, just to familiarize myself with one. But I think I clean and then check his point gap first. They looked to be set to wide.
TY
SDE
 
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