[89ponycar]

I have a 351 that has a mild cam in it, when I loosen the crows foot with the engine running, the distributor wabbles around. I have never seen this before, I havent pulled it out yet but would this possibly be from a worn dis. gear?

 

[fast9050]

That can't be good. Mark the location of your distributor rotor and pull it.

 

[cindys_sn95]

thats what they do! just don't run it loose....:nono:

 

[Nikon1021]

yea it'll do that if the hold down is loose, and as it moves its advancing and retards the timing.

 

[89ponycar]

Ok, thanks for the replys, I have never seen one do that before. I only noticed as I was adjusting the timing a bit. I can hold it from wobbling while I adjust it. Just struck me as a bit weird. Im gonna pull it anyhow just to check things out and drop it back down in the same way.

 

[fast9050]

I can assure you mine doesn't do that when the hold down bolt is loose.

 

[89coupe]

Does it have the oring on the distributor?

 

[cindys_sn95]

I can assure you mine doesn't do that when the hold down bolt is loose.

yours must be special...:worship:worship

 

[fast9050]

yours must be special...:worship:worship

What does that mean?

 

[fast9050]

yours must be special...:worship:worship

You want to give more useless advice, like telling that kid he should have a bolt going through the back of his timing cover to prevent coolant seepage? I'm sorry, but have you torn an engine down before?? Maybe just not a 302. Glad you're here.

 

[cindys_sn95]

nope, never have.... not one.

 

[guitar_stitch]

For the record, mine doesn't move when the clamp is loose either.

That said, I'd be a little concerned about the condition of the bearings allowing slop in the shaft at this point.

 

[cindys_sn95]

just wondering why so many people are running their engines with the distributor bolt loose.....:kooky:

 

[guitar_stitch]

Well, I used to think it was a bad thing... then I met a man and he told me to hang loose and go with whatever....

so I did... and I found that things certainly are spontaneous when you hang your distributor loose....

Then I tightened it up.... years later I tried to time the car... and remembered that I had to hang loose to get tight...

Or something like that. Either way, I've spent a lot of time setting the ignition timing, which requires a loose bolt (as you know), and have never had the distributor move on me during the course of the process. Three different distributors?