Dead Cruiser at Cahaba

[matt32]

Okay so it doesn't matter if it's in park but I still can't turn in it from the top. If i get under the truck and grab the crank pulley I can rotate it with a little effort. I guess I'll buy the socket that fits the crank and just spin it using a breaker bar or ratchet.

 

[Godwin]

So how many bananas am I looking at when I put a new to me distributor back in the BFB. Like so many other things I have never set or adjusted the timing on a car.

This post is too late to help much at this point since you've pulled the distributor and moved things around. Replacement could have been very simple. On the old distributor pull the wires and cap, disconnect the wiring from the ignitor, loosen and remove the hold-down bolt. Take note of where the bolt is in the slot, this would help in getting the new distributor close to where the timing is set.

Note the orientation of the rotor. As the distributor is pulled out the rotor will rotate clockwise (or is it CCW?). Anyway, note the final orientation of the rotor and set the rotor on the replacement distributor at that point. Then simply stag the new distributor in and if it settles in fully you're in good shape. If not pull it up to disengage from the gear on the camshaft and rotate the rotor slightly in one CW or CCW. You may have to play with this a little. The end of the distributor fits into a slot of the oil pump and since the oil pump was not disturbed the new distributor will fall into place once you hit the right spot.

 

[matt32]

I almost did exactly what you suggested because I know the rotor was pointed towards #1 on the cap and the distributor was rotated about a third into the slot but I wasn't sure if that would work or not. So I started trying to do it the way the FSM says which doesn't seem that hard I just can't get my crank to spin as easily as the FSM makes it appear that it should.

 

[Godwin]

Now you will have to set the engine at TDC and reorient the oil pump. It's not that hard but can be tricky as getting the oil pump drive set at the proper angle can be frustrating and when you go to drop in the distributor is one tooth off.

 

[matt32]

The painting of the flywheel that gets mentioned in the 80's forum is a great tip. Also for me I did have to remove all the plugs. Now to adjust the oil pump slot and hope I hit the right tooth on the first try.

 

[matt32]

okay so the good news to me is that it was definitely the distributor that was bad. The bad news is that I think I'm off a tooth and now have to take it back apart in order to rotate it.

 

[matt32]

So what may seem like a dumb question I'm not going to have to find TDC again I can just pull the distributor, adjust the oil pump slot, then put it back together? In order for it to stay running I have to advance the timing all the way out and even then it isn't running as smoothly as it should. Or is there some other adjustment that I missing? I know the FSM mentions the idle speed but I haven't made any adjustments there.

 

[matt32]

So the out of time was caused by a rather large crack in one of the air hoses. A little duct tape later and some minor adjustment later the BFB lives. She runs like she did in the past.

 

[matt32]

I want to thank Eric, Matt B, and Godwin for your help on this adventure of mine.

 

[Land Speeder]

Sorry the seance didn't happen... I was looking forward to it!
We really need more pointing and laughing up here in bham!...

 

[xodeuce]

Cool! Glad you got it running.

I too wanted to take part in the seance. Got to have someone check the headlight fluid and exhaust bearings.

 

[matt32]

Oh I'm sure there will be other chances for a seances, head light fluid, and muffler bearing checking.