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I've got dizzy.... Problems

Discussion in 'Flat Fender Tech' started by sammy, Mar 7, 2008.

  1. Mar 7, 2008
    sammy

    sammy Coca-Cola?

    Albuquerque, NM
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    Thinking about getting the engine ready to run this weekend, (will fire when more parts arrive)
    In the mean time, I've got to order Pertronix. Going 12V for her, what part number do I need for the pert on this? It all looks foreign to me...


    And, when I mount the dizzy, how? How do I set it to get it to run to be able to set my timing? I've never messed with a distributor before, only magneto's. Do I set number one to TDC and then...?

    Please help

    Thanks
     
  2. Mar 7, 2008
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
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    Number one to TDC on the compression stroke, and the rotor should be pointing to number 1 plug position on the distributor. That should be about the 5 o'clock position.
     
  3. Mar 7, 2008
    sammy

    sammy Coca-Cola?

    Albuquerque, NM
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    Sounds good, thanks Glenn!

    Now for Pertronix.
     
  4. Mar 7, 2008
    mortten

    mortten I can’t put my finger on it 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Peninsula, Ohio
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    I'd call Pertronix and tell them exactly what you have (stock dist.) and what mods you want to do (12 volt) and they will tell you what unit and coil to use.
     
  5. Mar 8, 2008
    sammy

    sammy Coca-Cola?

    Albuquerque, NM
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    Tried that Glenn.. No go...
    Set num 1 to TDC compression, dizzy to 5 o clock, (I see what you meant) put it in, felt firm. Turned it over by hand, and the dizzy made maybe a 16th rev, then stopped, pulled it out and there's wear on the dizzy plug part. What now?
    Thanks
     
  6. Mar 8, 2008
    w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    Port Orange, FL
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    Sounds like the distributor wasn't all the way down into the block Sammy. Spin the engine back over to TDC and try it again, but this time look to see if the distributor drops all the way down into the hole.

    Keep in mind, that clock position for the rotor is really unimportant, as long as the rotor is pointed at the #1 plug wire at TDC. ;)

    Oh, I almost forgot to mention that the distributor shaft has the drive slot on the end of the shaft offset, so you can only drop it in one way. If you are dead-set on getting the rotor to point to the 5 O'clock position, you may have to drop the oil pump back out and re-clock it a coupla times to get it right.

    BTW- You *did* prime the oil pump before installing it, right? :)
     
  7. Mar 8, 2008
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
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    I'm trying to decipher what you mean, so I'm guessing the rotor button is too big and is catching on the inside of the cap at the contact point?
     
  8. Mar 8, 2008
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

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    Or maybe Steve deciphered it better. ;)
     
  9. Mar 8, 2008
    sammy

    sammy Coca-Cola?

    Albuquerque, NM
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    It looks and feels bottomed out. I'm not good with terms on a distributor :oops:
    I had the o'clock position set, pushed it in all the way until I felt it was in,
    Ok the drive slot seems not to match into the oil pump, I'm afraid of breaking this one...
    And also, I didn't assemble it, the machine shop did it almost all the way, just have the head/covers/accessory's so I honestly can't say if it's been primed or not. Some purple looking stuff has been dripping out slowly, so I assume that that was the prime.
    My apologies for not fully understand what I'm talking about :oops:
     
  10. Mar 8, 2008
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
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    Set the #1 back to TDC on the compression stroke again, and take a good flashlight and look down in the distributor hole and note the position of the slot in the end of the oil pump, and which side the offset is on.
     
  11. Mar 8, 2008
    w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    Port Orange, FL
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    :iagree:

    You may not see it at first, but the more you look at it you will soon see the offset.

    Also, spin it over with the coil wire off and the plugs out first, you should see oil pressure on the gauge after a little cranking.
     
  12. Mar 8, 2008
    sammy

    sammy Coca-Cola?

    Albuquerque, NM
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    Doh! That sounds simple enough, I will do that tomorrow then! Thanks!

    Now a question on the distributor itself, it has the mounting plate, it has the housing, and the inside guts (rotor points condenser) Why does it all rotate separately upon itself? It seems to advance timing (expect another question on how to set the timing... :()
     
  13. Mar 8, 2008
    sammy

    sammy Coca-Cola?

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    That's still possibly a week off, but I will do that.
    Can I start another thread about oil lines and gaskets or can I continue in this one?
     
  14. Mar 8, 2008
    w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

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    New thread, makes searches easier..
     
  15. Mar 8, 2008
    sammy

    sammy Coca-Cola?

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    New thread from one who ask's too many bad questions, coming up
     
  16. Mar 8, 2008
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

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    Probably be better to start a new thread unless it's one simple question. :)
     
  17. Mar 8, 2008
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

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    Like Steve said. :)
     
  18. Mar 9, 2008
    sammy

    sammy Coca-Cola?

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    Ok, I'm special...
    Got the dizzy in, my mounting plate wasn't flush with the base, therefore not allowing it to go in all the way.
    Now, how does one set timing? And what wires go where on the dizzy? And what's the little gnarled nob on the side of the dizzy for?
     
  19. Mar 9, 2008
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

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    Wires go 1-3-4-2, counterclockwise. I don't know about the knob on the distributor, you might need to post a picture of that for us. The timing should be close enough to start it, so for now tighten the distributor down so you don't lose the initial setting. Your manual should show you the timing marks, so learn where they are on the cover and on the pulley, and make a white mark on the 5 degree BTDC mark on the pulley.
     
  20. Mar 9, 2008
    sammy

    sammy Coca-Cola?

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    Sorry for the poor quality photo, but the black arrow points to it.
    [​IMG]
     
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