1960 Distributor is moving after I tighten the wishbone down

[Mike Baillargeon #15848]

I'm setting the timing on a 1960 390 and I tighten the nut that should hold the distributor in place.

I start the car and I can watch the distributor slowly turn in that counter-clockwise rotation of the rotor.

The distributor, I picked up as a just rebuilt from a 1959 Cadillac.   Its a little tighter than the old one but not enough to say its going to move the housing on its own.

Is there a trick to put more mechanical pressure on that wishbone to secure it in place, because I'm afraid of really cranking down on that hold-down nut for fear of breaking off that threaded stud?

Mike

[Dave Shepherd]

The clamp must be deformed an does not hold or the hold down bolt is too long.

[Dan LeBlanc]

Remove the hold down clamp and bend the two "forks" that clamp the distributor down. That must have been over tightened some time in the past and caused distortion.

[Mike Baillargeon #15848]

Thanks guys,

Should I just put the 2 fork ends in a vice and tap for a better bend?

I'm really starting to like that ball peen hammer of mine!

Mike

[Dan LeBlanc]

Yes sir.  Sounds like you won't need much.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

You are running the round gasket under the distributor base?

Bruce.

[Mike Baillargeon #15848]

Bruce, when I pulled the old distributor there wasn't a gasket under that flange.

There was just an O - ring further down the shaft that looks like it seals when the distributor goes into the block.

I also wondered if there should have also been a gasket there, but I think any more thickness there lets less of the gear going into the cam gear.

Mike

[Dan LeBlanc]

In the couple of 62 390's I've done, I noticed the same o-ring and no gasket configuration.

[Mike Baillargeon #15848]

Thanks Guys,

I put the legs of the horseshoe into the vice, added a little heat, a little ball peen hammer and now it seems to be holding the distributor in place.

Also the vice knurled up the tips of the horseshoe ends which also added friction and probably helped.

Thanks again,

Mike