mpatilla

I have just put a new distributor in my 66 Galaxie 390 engine. After the engine has been running for a few minutes and I go to set the timing, the distributor is impossible to turn. Have I done something wrong or is that normal for a new distributor? Is there supposed to be a rubber piece on the engine that the distributor fits into to help it turn more easily?

MP

atec77

More information required , does it turn ok when the motor is stopped/cold , did you remember to losen the securing clamp ?

mpatilla

Thanks for your reply. When I first installed the distributor, it turned just fine, but the round piece that is surrounded by the O-ring is sitting on top of the engine. After it runs a while, the distributor seems to have been pulled down so that the round part that is surrounded by the O-ring is flush with the engine. Then I did loosen the securing clamp and was unable to turn the distributor to set the timing. It was extremely tight and I couldn't move it at all. I used a bar to pry it so that I could turn it, and then I just pulled it out.

Then I seated it back down in there again. It could turn really easily until I ran the engine for several minutes, then was tight again.

The engine did seem to run really well, except for being unable to accurately set the timing.

MP