74 fj40 "F" DISTRIBUTOR advice please!

[gbp808]

Hi, I decided to reach out for advice, instead of continuing down my rabbit hole on my own:
1. would not start after a few months of non-use, was pretty sure carb was OK so checked spark, there was none.
2. checked D cap, looked like decent amount of rotor arc, tiny metal balls etc. I had read on here that pertronix was a popular points replacement, so I ordered one.
3. after ordering, i decided to clean the distributor, and found that the weights were worn at the bushings and were rubbing and catching the plate, AND the one spring holder was gone and 1/2 a spring laying loose! The mechanism for failure seems to be the shaft "weight plate" was touching the bottom of the distributor housing and the spring holder was the touch point>wore the vertical part of the spring holder clean off. I suspect this has something to do with worn, missing thrust washers/spacers etc.
Also found that the vacuum advance has no vacuum!
4. so it seems the points were not likely an issue. I now have a busted, but seemingly repairable distributor, and a fancy pertronix electrical points system. What is the best next step:
a. try repair and then install pertronix?
b. try a cheap chinese F2 distributor?
c. get a used one on e-bay, F or F2, seems swapable?
d. Get a whole new distributor? If so, which one?
many thanks
garry, hawaii

 

[firemanj92]

Reach out to @4Cruisers. He might have a few rebuilt already and/or can certainly shed some light on the subject for ya.

 

[gbp808]

thanks! I sent a message, looks like he may not be in the business anymore.....?

 

[roadstr6]

@cruisermatt may have one and @Racer65 usually keeps new old-style points distributors in stock.

 

[Pighead]

Also found that the vacuum advance has no vacuum!

Sometimes, a '74 dizzy is a vacuum retard, not a vacuum advance. If it is a vacuum retard I would not bother to fix it but would buy a vacuum advance dizzy.

 

[4Cruisers]

Can you post a photo of your distributor?

 

[charliemeyer007]

My 72 came with a Rochester 2 bbl and a Delco dizzy when I got her in 82 I have been very happy with both. I might need to make a new bushing for the dizzy as there now seems to be some excess play in the top shaft. I love that it is straight mechanical advance.

 

[gbp808]

Thank you for all your advice!
I have not been ignoring it, just going crazy trying to solve the ignition.
History: She has had very rough running since i got her 2-3 yrs ago. I got her to hobble thru safety check (very loose in Hawaii) and back on the road after 10 yrs in a field. All along I had been focussed on carb issues, whole nother saga. Always rough, 1/2 choke all/most of the time. I tinker every few months but was not getting any results. Last ran 6 mo ago and safety coming up soon, so tried to get ready. No start, did not see spark, so I started thinking maybe my points skills were lacking. A lot of good talk on here about pertronix electronic ignition, so i thought that would be a good start. While waiting for it, i decided to remove dizzy to clean it, to get ready for my part that was going to save me! Thats when i found the broken parts.

I ended up welding up a spring holder, fashioning a spring of similar tension, and making bushings for the weights and using some thrust washers, Seemed to all operate properly and line up nice.(weight bushings were so worn the weights had 30deg tilt and were rubbing all over) Excitedly installed elec igniter and recommended coil. Took a lot to get static timing (lesson learned to set at #1 and take pics before removing) but evntually she fired up and ran the BEST-EVER. I was so stoked, took a test drive to the corner store to get a 6 pack reward. Crap..ed out on the way home, severe lurching/coughing/backfiring.
Now after 3 days and innumerable trials in different positions and teardown, i can share this:
1.dizzy is 9100-60066, looks like vac-advance, not the vac retard just prior. Reinspection of repairs all good.
2. the vac "adv" canister holds no vacuum and has NOT been on for all of this. Unable to source another, but have been told this is mainly for fuel efficiency, so assuming its absence is not a factor now
3 vac hose plugged
4. never did know what to do with the condenser wire, capped for now.
5.with #1 TDC the rotor points to almost #3(180 deg adjust points to firewall), i retard dizzy and then adv till #1 sparks. No start, heavy backfiring, both back end and very loud carb bang.
Could all my timing errors have caused major engine damage to explain this?

 

[Pighead]

1.dizzy is 9100-60066, looks like vac-advance, not the vac retard just prior. Reinspection of repairs all good.

I do not know what a 9100-60066 looks like.
Here is a pic of 2 different dizzys. The one on the right is a vacuum advance. The one on the left is a vacuum retard.

 

[Pighead]

5.with #1 TDC the rotor points to almost #3(180 deg adjust points to firewall), i retard dizzy and then adv till #1 sparks. No start, heavy backfiring, both back end and very loud carb bang.
Could all my timing errors have caused major engine damage to explain this?

Remember that the crankshaft turns twice for every one of the dizzy rotor rotation. there are 2 TDC#1 for every rotor go 'round. You need to know the difference between the squeeze and blow strokes.
If your rotor is pointing toward sparkplug wire #3 at TDC, swing the crankshaft around one more time to the timing mark. My rotor looks like this then...

 

[gbp808]

Hi Pighead (ok to use your handle?)
Thanks for input! Mine is clearly the "retarded" one, despite all the online digging saying the opposite.
One thread said get rid of the retard dizzy. Are you able to give advice on my july 74 F? What should I try run? I am not concerned w/OEM/stock etc, just need her to move
thanks
garry

 

[gbp808]

Thanks for your trouble. If i go another 180 it ends up pointing to firewall. My "best" approximation seems about 45 deg more retarded(to the right) than yours. Any idea how this could happen?

 

[nabbasi]

I have a 2F, but I swapped to a Toyota distributor with vacuum advance and it has been excellent. Part number 19100-61180

Just to reiterate the TDC thing, I use a combination of visual inspection and the old paper towel shoved into the spark plug #1. I have an exploded muffler to show what happens if you’re on the wrong stroke.

 

[Pighead]

What should I try run?

Toyota sells, new, a fine vacuum advance dizzy. Lots of our vendors carry it. Or you can find them used. I like the real early '69 and earlier. Put a pertronix in it, that might be my favorite dizzy.

 

[Pighead]

Any idea how this could happen?

Someone pulled the dizzy and didn't put it back where they found it. Either on purpose or by accident.