Re: PackardDon's 1956 Clipper Custom Sedan

Posted by Packard Don On 2021/12/10 22:57:31

For today, I thought I would again attempt to start it but it stubbornly refuses to even try to fire and I'm sure it is the distributor at fault. Being at the back center of the engine, it is rather inaccessible but the first thing I noticed was that the points were ensconced in cam grease as apparently too much was put on at some point in the past (pardon the pun!). Otherwise after cleaning with carburetor cleaner spray the gap seems fine but it was showing continuity at the side terminal whether the points were open or closed so I pulled off the rotor and spotted a lone blue wire with a burn mark in it. Someone had used the wrong condenser!

I have a spare distributor which has the proper condenser but, since it is so difficult to do anything to the distributor and I'm sure if I tried I would end up dropping the tiny screws inside, is this typically done by pulling it out? Other than noting the direction and putting it back in the same position, is there anything to watch for?

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