My distributor wasn't giving me any mechanical advance so I figured I would clean it up, well here's the problem I can't get it back together. I did a search and found some info on which way the wieghts go in, but I can't get them to fit the way they are telling me to do it. Can someone help me figure this out. Right now I have my distributor set up the same way as the small picture. I checked two other distributors and one was set up like the big picture and one was set up like the little picture, so still no clue. I can't even get my wieghts in like the big picture. http://www.camaros.net/forum/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=4;t=008418#000000

I also lost the C clips that hold the center wieght in place, does anybody know what size they are.

Thanks a bunch

Dino

nobody knows

Anybody

Dino

Why wont they go in like the large photo? Do you have the center piece in backwards?

As far as the clips go, just take it down to the hardware store and find one that fits.

I have tried the centre piece and the wieghts everyway but still no go, the only way I can get them to fit is like the small pic. I just bought a proform distributor and the wieghts are set up like the small pic. Are all dist. set up the same I assume they must be because they all work on the same principle. Do they fit really tight or should they go in with no problem. Why does the proform get any mechanical advance if they are in wrong? I took your advice and went to the hardware store and bought a couple C clips of about 3 sizes so one should fit.

all help is appreciated

Dino

Dino-
Those weights move on centripital forces, so the small-pic setup will give no advance. Why do you say it's a tight fit? Tight fit meaning the weights fitting with the center piece? I apoligize, I'm having a hard time imagining why it would be tight. Can you take a photo?

Also, the small-pic setup would work if it was rotating CCW. Not sure why Proform would have installed it that way, unless if they goofed (easy to do, I've done it).

I can't seem to get the wieghts in around the center piece, I've tried to flip and flop the wieghts and the center piece every witch way but I just can't seem to get it. I put the thing back together like the small picture has it, and it does advance when I rev it up, but I don't know how much advance I am getting. I'm going over to a buddies house that has an advance test light to see how much advance I am getting.

Silver69Camaro nice car! thanks for all your help

If rolling-robert is out there looking in, did you end up getting your advance to work?

Dino

I tried it the way I had it and it advanced about 8 degrees, all in at about 1500 rpm, which gives me about 26 total advance. Initial is 18 deg. It still pulls hard but I've still got to take it apart and get it right. Seems like it should be a simple fix but I can't figure it out.

Dino

Yeah, judging by your timing figures, that's what it does when its backwards. Little to no advance. Another 10* would be good, all in by 3000-3500 (just get it in by the RPM your converter stalls). I've got mine in by 3200, even though mine stalls at 3800, but it really doesn't matter too much.

Oh, thanks for the compliment!

By the way, you should go helluva lot faster than high 11's. Mine should go 11.8's if I can get it to hook right.

Matt I went and got the Mr.Gasket advance kit and it turned out to be exactly what I already had, it was cheap and I got some more springs. The instructions that came with the kit say to hook it up just the way I have it (small pic)for clockwise rotation. I'm confused as I'm still not getting very much advance the way I have it.

Thanks Dino

Ok, I figured it out. The previous thread about this is wrong, and so am I. Turns out, the smaller photo in that last thread is the correct one, not the larger one. When I imagined the centripital forces in my mind, I had it backwards. Looks like you have it correct!

Also, if you do a search on eBay, you'll find that every HEI for SBC has it that way, which is a good clue.

Ok, now that we have that figured out, we need to figure out your advance. I know that some kits do feature a small amount of advance, and it's usually due to the lightweight weights. Try your stock weights with the aftermarket center piece and medium springs. I've found that this setup works well, but I prefer the Moroso center piece and MSD blue springs...although the Moroso springs work well also. Anyway, try heaver weights and see what happens. Sorry for all the confusion graemlins/clonk.gif

I now understand that I have it the right way, did I read the previous post wrong or what am I missing about why the other distributor is set up different. I will try to find a set of stock wieghts to put in, do you think that will give me enough mech. advance. If I was to leave it the way it is how much power do you think I'm leaving at the table, not that I'm going to. It's a good thing we figured it out because I was just about to bring out the big hammer to get those suckin' wieghts in there. If I ever get this thing working properly what should I shot for in a timing curve.

Thanks for your help Matt!!
Dino

Matt You Have Mail smile.gif

Dino-
Somebody with a BBC should answer this, but I would aim for 36*.

Dino do a search on HEI home dist recurve. I posted my step by step. I like my curve like this
A very low base figure (0-5 on race engine,5-10* max on street engine). Vac advance adjusted 10-15* at 5-10" vaccume and appprox 25* supplied by the weights above 1600 rpm. Low cranking * setting provides easy start up. carefull vac tuning provides proper Idle timing and no load timing for max efficiency. Tune the max timing like everyone does. I run my timing on the chevelle like this. Running down the road I bet The timing is somewhere around a 40-45* ish number. When I Mash the happy pedal, my Vac goes low enough to render the Vac adv inoperable (very crucial) and the timing number ends up around 34* ish. Works for me but there are dozens of other ways as well. Good luck
Milan