Distributor Rebuild

finfont

Member
Morning, all:
Re: 1972 P6 3500, Automatic:
I'm having a difficult time fitting contact points ( the correct ones, and, of good quality) on my distributor. The heel doesn't contact the distributor cam as it should. I'm thinking it's time to rebuild the distributor. Is this a project that anyone here has undertaken? If so, any serious concerns about a DIY rebuild? (I'm in the US, and, just trying to avoid the down time of shipping the distributor to England to have the job done.) As always, any comments are appreciated. Many Thanks!
Drew
 
Hi Drew, THE distributor rebuilder for our classics is Jeff at Advanced Distributors in Minnesota. Great tech rep and one of his units on my Rover working quite well. Discuss electronic ignition with him. He's in Minnesota. Luck to ya, Jimhttp://advanceddistributors.com/wordpress1/
 
Jeff rebuilt the distributor for my 2000 TC. I was very pleased with his work. He also adjusted/recurved the mechanical and vacuum advance on the unit to match some engine mods I have made and to match modern fuels. Performance is great.
 
Finding someone on this side of the Atlantic that can work on these fussy old cars is a rare treat. I will contact him today. Thank you, Jim.
 
Really? they were bought out a few years ago and I thought they were put back into production. You can buy their parts practically anywhere even now.
 
Really? they were bought out a few years ago and I thought they were put back into production. You can buy their parts practically anywhere even now.
Peter- I know, I checked on line. They do seem to be available. I'm not sure what to believe at this point. Thanks,
 
In a not-surprising move, the folks at MSD Performance today announced plans to merge the Mallory Ignition brand with the MSD Performance brand by the end of the first quarter of 2015. MSD announced on January 4, 2015, that they had acquired the Accel Performance Group, which included Mallory, Mr.11 Mar 2015
 
I had to replace my Mallory dual point as it didn't work too well - possibly because of too much under bonnet heat.

I just dropped in an SD1 electronic distributor and wired it up to an RPI power amp which was already there when I bought the car. Worked a treat, never let me down and was very smooth and reliable. I might still have it somewhere :)
 
I had to replace my Mallory dual point as it didn't work too well - possibly because of too much under bonnet heat.

I just dropped in an SD1 electronic distributor and wired it up to an RPI power amp which was already there when I bought the car. Worked a treat, never let me down and was very smooth and reliable. I might still have it somewhere :)
I found the Lucas module absolute junk, the distributor which I have is fine. Had 3 genuine ones. Swapped it for a GM HEI one mounted extremally and wow, what a difference. This uses very low resistance coils (ideally e-core), the advantages of this is quicker charging early in the cycle and overall spark energy. Which might be why Lucas actually use this module inside the Jaguar XJ12 HE silver box. A very interesting write-up here: Chrysler HEI- theory & testing - Slant Six Forum Apparently points and basic points replacement systems tail off as low as 3000rpm in a 6 cylinder engine. So all electronic ignition is not created equal. You want as little fixed resistance and as much electronic control as possible.
 
Dwell adjuster way off? Was it working OK before ?
No, the dwell is set and stable. And, yes, the distributor functions perfectly fine, but, only, after I've "adjusted!) the heel so that it contacts the cam. I do plan on sending it off, but, I don't relish the thought of not being able to use the car for those 3 - 4 weeks. So, at this point, I'm living with it. Thanks for the input.
 
Vacuum advance peg connected properly? Hard to visualize how the heel will miss the cam if the points base is seated correctly in its locating hole....I have just dismantled a dizzy, and removed the base plate complete with the moving plate attached, and wondered why it was so messy to disconnect the vacuum advance arm.....until I realized I should have undone the nut holding the moving plate and removed that first, then the vacuum arm, then the base plate..
Duh! Hopefully reassembly will be easier.
 
Vacuum advance peg connected properly? Hard to visualize how the heel will miss the cam if the points base is seated correctly in its locating hole....I have just dismantled a dizzy, and removed the base plate complete with the moving plate attached, and wondered why it was so messy to disconnect the vacuum advance arm.....until I realized I should have undone the nut holding the moving plate and removed that first, then the vacuum arm, then the base plate..
Duh! Hopefully reassembly will be easier.
I'm interested in your idea. The points base is seated correctly. It is the type of points set without a secondary pin to seat in the base plate. My mechanical background is limited, but, I'd like to learn. How would I determine of the vacuum advance peg is properly connected? Thanks,
Drew
 
Apply some vacuum to the nipple on the can (sucking hard is usually enough) and the points plate should move. And if you plug the nipple with your tongue after the suck, it should stay advanced - if it doesnt, its leaking, failed.
 
Apply some vacuum to the nipple on the can (sucking hard is usually enough) and the points plate should move. And if you plug the nipple with your tongue after the suck, it should stay advanced - if it doesnt, its leaking, failed.
Will give it a try. Many thanks!
 
The dizzy I am doing has no felt pad to oil the cam, and its quite well marked by the points heel. Looking at other Lucas points , they have the little fork to have the felt pad built in, but these points dont have it, and there is nowhere to add one. Wondering if there is a way to add the felt pad somewhere.....
 
The dizzy I am doing has no felt pad to oil the cam, and its quite well marked by the points heel. Looking at other Lucas points , they have the little fork to have the felt pad built in, but these points dont have it, and there is nowhere to add one. Wondering if there is a way to add the felt pad somewhere.....
You might try Martin at Distributor Doctor. He should have the correct points.
 
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