SBC HEI Distributor clicking loudly and timimng won't stay set where i put it.

[Vbb199]

Hopefully it's something simple to figure out and he won't have to deal with any spirits or space aliens.

I hope it ain't no haunted space alien HEI chit

H -haunted
E - electromagnetic
I - incubus

(I couldn't find a spectral/alien word that started with "i")

 

[mtnmankev]

@aywoschmotors I have seven used dizzys in the shed, checked them all, and it seems like 1/8" to 3/16" is normal.
When new, there might be less play in them.
Since it looks like mechanical interaction between the rotor and cap, excessive play seems the culprit.
I suggest yank it out of the engine and see if there is slippage at the top of the inner shaft.
Might be a challenge, but should be doable.

 

[AyWoSch Motors]

@aywoschmotors I have seven used dizzys in the shed, checked them all, and it seems like 1/8" to 3/16" is normal.
When new, there might be less play in them.
Since it looks like mechanical interaction between the rotor and cap, excessive play seems the culprit.
I suggest yank it out of the engine and see if there is slippage at the top of the inner shaft.
Might be a challenge, but should be doable

I plan on yanking it out to see what's up, but at this point, I think I'll just get a new one. Dont trust this one now.
I have 2 others in the parts cabinet, but one was in a bucket or water for a few months, and the other I found at the junkyard in a scrap pile. I dont think I'd trust either of them either, except for parts.
Its pouring rain right now, so itll have to be another day.

 

[AyWoSch Motors]

Just this on the ol Interwebs.
Whatcha think?
Too cheap, or is a distributor a distributor...
Its everything I need, and it matches the wires, haha.

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And it says fits up to 1985, but my truck is an '86. Would it still fit, or will I have to look for something else?

 

[mtnmankev]

Just this on the ol Interwebs.
Whatcha think?
Too cheap, or is a distributor a distributor...
Its everything I need, and it matches the wires, haha.

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

And it says fits up to 1985, but my truck is an '86. Would it still fit, or will I have to look for something else?

Like almost everything else, made in (you know where).
That price is probably what they are supposed to sell for except at retail from a normal parts store with their profit margin.
Personally, I would get one from O'Reilly's for about a hundred bucks (complete) and has a "walk in the store and get a replacement under warranty" just in case..
And yes, that dizzy should drop right in and work fine.
The main power wire connector should be the same as what's on your truck, but double check that !!
I think ESC came out for the 86-up models, and they had more wires.
As long as you have a single heavy power wire live when the key is on, you're good.

 

[Vbb199]

I was thinking 1985 would've marked the end of that earlier..... 4 Pin ignition module where your 1986 might would use a 7 or 5 pin like my 1989 does. (It's 7 pin with the tbi)

I dunno tho

 

[mtnmankev]

Here's something I just happened to think of ........did you use a steel bushing or shaft to the oil pump/distributor drive, or did you use one of those nylon ones that comes in the gasket kit ?
The nylons won't hold up, they like to crack and break.

 

[AyWoSch Motors]

Here's something I just happened to think of ........did you use a steel bushing or shaft to the oil pump/distributor drive, or did you use one of those nylon ones that comes in the gasket kit ?
The nylons won't hold up, they like to crack and break.

I used the steel one that came with my new pump.

 

[Vbb199]

I had to correct that response like 6x, lmao


Anyways, the one pictured should work fine.

 

[AyWoSch Motors]

I was thinking 1985 would've marked the end of that earlier..... 4 Pin ignition module where your 1986 might would use a 7 or 5 pin like my 1989 does. (It's 7 pin with the tbi)

I dunno tho

What does that change? Because on the cap, theres just one tab for the power to the distributor.

 

[mtnmankev]

I used the steel one that came with my new pump.

GOOD BOY !!!
That takes a huge load off my mind, and eliminates the possibility of that being the reason for slop in the dizzy shaft.

 

[Vbb199]

What does that change? Because on the cap, theres just one tab for the power to the distributor.

Not a damn thing for your motor, as im sure the originally equipped ESC system isn't on your 86 anymore lol


They just listed it as 1974-1985 letting you know it's a direct replacement for those years.

It doesn't matter for your 86 motor as it doesn't have the esc stuff is what I'm trying to say.

 

[mtnmankev]

What does that change? Because on the cap, theres just one tab for the power to the distributor.

I may be wrong because I have been out of the loop on "new" stuff, but it makes sense to me the ESC uses the computer to control the timing, and there should be more than just a power lead to the distributor to allow that function to work.
You'll never see a computer on my trucks doing anything, I like things simple, easy to troubleshoot, maintain, and less to go wrong.

 

[AyWoSch Motors]

GOOD BOY !!!
That takes a huge load off my mind, and eliminates the possibility of that being the reason for slop in the dizzy shaft.

Yeah, I've learned from others mistakes, my boss and my best friend both said dont use the nylon ones, the suck.
And when I bought the new Mellings pump, it had the steel one, so win win.

 

[AyWoSch Motors]

Not a damn thing for your motor, as im sure the originally equipped ESC system isn't on your 86 anymore lol


They just listed it as 1974-1985 letting you know it's a direct replacement for those years.

It doesn't matter for your 86 motor as it doesn't have the esc stuff is what I'm trying to say.

I may be wrong because I have been out of the loop on "new" stuff, but it makes sense to me the ESC uses the computer to control the timing, and there should be more than just a power lead to the distributor to allow that function to work.
You'll never see a computer on my trucks doing anything, I like things simple, easy to troubleshoot, maintain, and less to go wrong.

Oh okay, so it won't keep it from running, that's all I need to know. I figured as long as it has a key on power to the Bat side of the dizzy, it should work. That's how the old setup was.

Does that have anything to do with the second group of wires I've seen coming out of some HEIs? Wondered what that was. My friends GMC has that on his distributor, and I believe it's an 86 as well.
Mine probably had one of those orginally, because theres a few random cannon plugs hanging down from the firewall that didn't do anything.