Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Got the distributor (Autolite) out of the car and one of the advance springs is pretty loose and both springs are very rusty. This could be the reason it idles with WAY too much advance.
I think the weights are reusable. I'll just clean them up a little.

So where does a guy get some new springs?

There are people that specialize in ignition components. You might look in Hemmings motor news. Maybe look online. I have a guy here locally that rebuilds distributors, and has parts. There are specific RPM's at which there should be specific amounts of advance occurring. The only way to ensure this is happening properly is to put the distributor in a distributor machine and check the advance curve. The correct weight springs are installed to allow the proper advance curve.

I provide the advance specifications from the manual to the distributor guy, he re-bushed the body, installed a rebuilt vacuum advance, installed a good used ignition plate, and put the springs in and curved it. In most cases distributors are neglected and never get this kind of attention. This complete refurbish made a huge difference in the way my car ran and performed.

Best of luck,
Jim

Since the centrifugal advance doesn't come into play at idle RPMs, it's wouldn't be responsible for idle issues, look elsewhere for that problem. However you'll want it to function properly for good road performance. There are literally thousands of springs for all the different advance curves on so many engines that, if you don't have a distributer test machine like a Sun, you could search and fiddle for a lifetime to get good results. Thus I'd say get a SUN machine and start making (and discarding) springs, or bite the bullet and go for a specialist.

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I understand that concept, but if one of the weights is loose because of a streched out spring wouldn't it cause some advance at idle?

I guess I'll bite the bullet and take it to a shop that has the proper equipment. I was hoping to just get it "close enough" with some stock replacement springs.

Good question. First remember the distributor rotates at half-crankshaft speed, so only about 200+ rpm at idle. And indeed I guess it could affect idle but I think (and sometimes that's a mistake) that the weight has to move and put tension on the spring and anchor pin to do its job. One last point on routine distributor servicing that many folks miss - in addition to the grease cup or oiler on the shaft, the small felt beneath the rotor needs a few drops of oil - that's what lubricates the slip shaft to enable the centrigugal to work.

What type of lube do you recommend? Motor Oil or Gear Lube?

It's a full time job just finding all the lube points on these things. By the time you do the last one, the first one's already dry

I'll have to make a pre-flight checklist and hang it on the dash to make sure everythings been oiled before takeoff.

I appreciate your humor. Just think, now we drive 150,000 miles and maybe do nothing at all except oil changes. Back in the day, it was every 1000 miles to the local garage for a grease job, tune up every 12,000 valve job every 40,000, etc.

Use motor oil, just a few drops on the felt wick. Don't over-oil. If your felt wick is missing, it's just a round plug of felt over the top of the clip that hold the cam on, and below the rotor. If missing, cut up one of grandpa's old hats, or a piece of carpet jute underlayment works OK too.