First, I want to say THANK YOU ALL!! This website has saved me literally thousands of dollars in labor on my 95 Discovery. From replacing a front CV to repairing the sunroofs, you guys and gals are spot on with good advice.

Now an open question. In the process of changing my cap and rotor, the rotor would not come off. I read somewhere that you can take a chisel and split the plastic rotor, then it comes right off. DON'T DO THIS! In the process of whacking away at the rotor, the spring for the mechanical advance fell off. Talk about zero power when you need it! The thing stays at 6 degrees BTDC all the time...
My question is; how hard is it to dissassemble the distributor and put the spring back on? Is it easier to get at it by removing the top metal rotor to get at the innards? Or can you pull the distributor out and take off the camshaft gear and pull the whole shaft out(a la Ford TFI)? Or should I just try to find a used one?

Thanks!!!

 

Convert to a distribitor less system, you can buy a HEI distribitor and never have to adjust timing or replace cap and rotor's again.

 

If I had that problem, I would take the distributor apart and see if I could correct the problem. They are not complex. What have you got to lose? If you are not successful, you will have to replace it anyway. Go for it. Just be sure to scribe a mark on the shaft and engine, so you can line it back up when you replace it, and be sure the rotor is pointing to the same point as when you took it off.

 

the advance weights and springs can be tricky to get all hooked up right, but its not that bad, try it.


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Thanks, I'll look at it this weekend. Not really to keen on the idea of a pricey HEI system!

 

Well, that was alot easier than I thought it would be, and cost $0.00. The shaft can be removed by taking the snapring off the top and pulling the metal inductor rotor, than you can get at the advance weights, etc. Runs great now.

But sounds terrible. The exhaust manifold gaskets leak on the right side... argh!

 

Glad you got it fixed.