Dist rotor mystery - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

jhngardner367 · 03-18-2012, 06:37 PM

Has anyone ever had their distributor rotor come loose,while driving!?
The other day,I went to the store,and as I got out on the street,my truck stumbled,and died. Since I was low on fuel,I figured it was out of gas(I was heading for the station,from the store).I hit the key,and it started up,and ran fine,all the way to the station.
I got gas,and drove 4 miles home,without a problem,but,as I pulled into the drive,it stumbled,and died,again! So,I started checking,and when I took off the distributor cap,I found that the rotor had one screw holding by 2 threads!
The other had loosened,but not fell out. Strangely,neither the cap,nor the rotor was damaged! The rotor was installed,by me,3 months ago,and I had used blue locktite on the threads.
Since the hood release is inside,and I lock my doors,I can't say it was someone playing with it,but I KNOW it was tight !
Any ideas?

INSIDIOUS '86 · 03-18-2012, 08:00 PM

Lock washers?
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jhngardner367 · 03-18-2012, 08:23 PM

Yes.They were included,with the rotor.I'm starting to wonder if there's some way of getting the hood up, on these trucks,from the outside,as I just looked at the GMC,(also kept locked)and the carb is missing,as well as the new overflow bottle for the radiator!

INSIDIOUS '86 · 03-18-2012, 09:03 PM

The break into the wing windows on these trucks and just pull the latch. I've never needed loctite on my rotor though. Just tight with a screwdriver
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jhngardner367 · 03-18-2012, 09:40 PM

I dabbed a bit on,just for good measure.It was the light-blue formula,for vibration-prone screws.
As I said,I've never had a rotor come loose,before!.

INSIDIOUS '86 · 03-18-2012, 09:54 PM

Heat does render blue and red loctit useless though
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jhngardner367 · 03-18-2012, 09:59 PM

True,but,I still can't explain why it loosened,in the first place.
I'm 60 yrs old,& I've worked on/owned GM's,since I was 14,and this is the only time it's happened.I'm thinking of putting my nite-vision security cam on the area,for a while,and see if anything shows up!

orbot · 03-18-2012, 10:16 PM

maybe they got loose with time, or bad screws.

Your41Plague12 · 03-18-2012, 10:27 PM

I think someone messed with it. I've never ever heard of that happening if the screws were tight, and especially since your GMC is missing parts. You can pry up on the hood and get to the hood release bolts with a socket and an extension. I had to do this with my truck when the release cable came unclipped from the latch. Check and see if the bolts from the latch are missing on your GMC. If they are, that's how they did it.

INSIDIOUS '86 · 03-18-2012, 10:45 PM

Well it's not beyond anybody to steal anything these days. Even half the engine!
Posted via Mobile Device

jhngardner367 · 03-19-2012, 12:27 AM

Well,I went ahead,and put the nite-vision cam up,to cover the area,and it feeds directly into a dvr. I want to see what's going on,and by whom! It took all of 30 minutes to get it hidden,connected,and tested.
I also found out that a neighbor ,down the block,had some things happen to his '86 GMC(broken vent window,dist cap &wires gone)!

INSIDIOUS '86 · 03-19-2012, 02:09 AM

Well it can show you who and when but it don't get them cought unfortunately. No having a break beam laser hooked up to a horn will let you know when they are there
Posted via Mobile Device

jhngardner367 · 03-20-2012, 12:13 AM

Hah!! Got 'em on video!Around 3am,the sensor tripped the dvr,and the cam caught 'em in the act! He still had his head under the hood,when I came up behind him,with my .380.
The little SOB had my dist cap,and wires off,and was working on pulling the distributor,itself! I called the cops,before I went out,and he just sat on the ground,until they cuffed him! There's a dead end alley behind my house,that all the people on my street use for parking.He had parked at the open end,and was walking to my truck! Cops have the video,and other parts he stole were in his truck!

kelsfine69 · 03-20-2012, 09:57 AM

That is Awesome!!!, I like to see the look on his face when you said "Hey Boy, Whatcha Doing"!!..."Go Ahead make My Day"

Your41Plague12 · 03-20-2012, 10:02 AM

I love it. Glad you got the SOB that did it.

67-72: 1
Bad guys: 0

Dieselholic92 · 03-20-2012, 10:23 AM

That's awesome!

Tucson38 · 03-20-2012, 10:31 AM

Amazing story.

jhngardner367 · 03-20-2012, 11:05 AM

Yah,but the cops were a little upset. He kinda soiled himself,when the .380 touched him !LOL ! One of the cops said this guy hadn't been out too long,from another bust.
AND I found out how he got the hood open. He had a small, hard-steel rod,and one end was bent,like a question mark. he could slip it in and hook the latch,and move it to the side,and it opened the latch. I tried to get a better look at it,but they took it as evidence.
I guess,if they really want in,they'll find a way!

03-18-2012, 06:37 PM	#1
jhngardner367 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Austin, Arkansas Posts: 248	Dist rotor mystery Has anyone ever had their distributor rotor come loose,while driving!? The other day,I went to the store,and as I got out on the street,my truck stumbled,and died. Since I was low on fuel,I figured it was out of gas(I was heading for the station,from the store).I hit the key,and it started up,and ran fine,all the way to the station. I got gas,and drove 4 miles home,without a problem,but,as I pulled into the drive,it stumbled,and died,again! So,I started checking,and when I took off the distributor cap,I found that the rotor had one screw holding by 2 threads! The other had loosened,but not fell out. Strangely,neither the cap,nor the rotor was damaged! The rotor was installed,by me,3 months ago,and I had used blue locktite on the threads. Since the hood release is inside,and I lock my doors,I can't say it was someone playing with it,but I KNOW it was tight ! Any ideas? __________________ Always expect the unexpected,....but don't expect the unexpected to be the unexpected you expect ! I'm busier than a one-legged cat,in a sandbox! Veteran..and proud ! I can't fix what ain't broke....you want I should break it?

03-18-2012, 08:00 PM	#2
INSIDIOUS '86 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: washington Posts: 4,178	Re: Dist rotor mystery Lock washers? Posted via Mobile Device __________________ 377 sbc thumpr cam autogear m23 muncie 3:73 Detroit trutrac 3''spintech prostreet mufflers xpipe 1 3/4 headers build thread !http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=577217 Iroc gauge threadhttp://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=554511

03-18-2012, 08:23 PM	#3
jhngardner367 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Austin, Arkansas Posts: 248	Re: Dist rotor mystery Yes.They were included,with the rotor.I'm starting to wonder if there's some way of getting the hood up, on these trucks,from the outside,as I just looked at the GMC,(also kept locked)and the carb is missing,as well as the new overflow bottle for the radiator! __________________ Always expect the unexpected,....but don't expect the unexpected to be the unexpected you expect ! I'm busier than a one-legged cat,in a sandbox! Veteran..and proud ! I can't fix what ain't broke....you want I should break it?

03-18-2012, 09:03 PM	#4
INSIDIOUS '86 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: washington Posts: 4,178	Re: Dist rotor mystery The break into the wing windows on these trucks and just pull the latch. I've never needed loctite on my rotor though. Just tight with a screwdriver Posted via Mobile Device __________________ 377 sbc thumpr cam autogear m23 muncie 3:73 Detroit trutrac 3''spintech prostreet mufflers xpipe 1 3/4 headers build thread !http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=577217 Iroc gauge threadhttp://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=554511

03-18-2012, 09:40 PM	#5
jhngardner367 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Austin, Arkansas Posts: 248	Re: Dist rotor mystery I dabbed a bit on,just for good measure.It was the light-blue formula,for vibration-prone screws. As I said,I've never had a rotor come loose,before!. __________________ Always expect the unexpected,....but don't expect the unexpected to be the unexpected you expect ! I'm busier than a one-legged cat,in a sandbox! Veteran..and proud ! I can't fix what ain't broke....you want I should break it?

03-18-2012, 09:54 PM	#6
INSIDIOUS '86 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: washington Posts: 4,178	Re: Dist rotor mystery Heat does render blue and red loctit useless though Posted via Mobile Device __________________ 377 sbc thumpr cam autogear m23 muncie 3:73 Detroit trutrac 3''spintech prostreet mufflers xpipe 1 3/4 headers build thread !http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=577217 Iroc gauge threadhttp://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=554511

03-18-2012, 09:59 PM	#7
jhngardner367 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Austin, Arkansas Posts: 248	Re: Dist rotor mystery True,but,I still can't explain why it loosened,in the first place. I'm 60 yrs old,& I've worked on/owned GM's,since I was 14,and this is the only time it's happened.I'm thinking of putting my nite-vision security cam on the area,for a while,and see if anything shows up! __________________ Always expect the unexpected,....but don't expect the unexpected to be the unexpected you expect ! I'm busier than a one-legged cat,in a sandbox! Veteran..and proud ! I can't fix what ain't broke....you want I should break it?

03-18-2012, 10:16 PM	#8
orbot Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chula Vista, Ca Posts: 518	Re: Dist rotor mystery maybe they got loose with time, or bad screws.

03-18-2012, 10:27 PM	#9
Your41Plague12 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,009	Re: Dist rotor mystery I think someone messed with it. I've never ever heard of that happening if the screws were tight, and especially since your GMC is missing parts. You can pry up on the hood and get to the hood release bolts with a socket and an extension. I had to do this with my truck when the release cable came unclipped from the latch. Check and see if the bolts from the latch are missing on your GMC. If they are, that's how they did it. __________________ Steve Member of the Foot Pedal Club '83 Chevy K20: 6" Rough Country, 3" Performance Accessories BL, Bushwacker Cutouts, 38x15.50 Mickey Thompson Baja Claws, 350 HP 350 crate engine from Jegs, Turbo 400

03-18-2012, 10:45 PM	#10
INSIDIOUS '86 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: washington Posts: 4,178	Re: Dist rotor mystery Well it's not beyond anybody to steal anything these days. Even half the engine! Posted via Mobile Device __________________ 377 sbc thumpr cam autogear m23 muncie 3:73 Detroit trutrac 3''spintech prostreet mufflers xpipe 1 3/4 headers build thread !http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=577217 Iroc gauge threadhttp://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=554511

03-19-2012, 12:27 AM	#11
jhngardner367 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Austin, Arkansas Posts: 248	Re: Dist rotor mystery Well,I went ahead,and put the nite-vision cam up,to cover the area,and it feeds directly into a dvr. I want to see what's going on,and by whom! It took all of 30 minutes to get it hidden,connected,and tested. I also found out that a neighbor ,down the block,had some things happen to his '86 GMC(broken vent window,dist cap &wires gone)! __________________ Always expect the unexpected,....but don't expect the unexpected to be the unexpected you expect ! I'm busier than a one-legged cat,in a sandbox! Veteran..and proud ! I can't fix what ain't broke....you want I should break it?

03-19-2012, 02:09 AM	#12
INSIDIOUS '86 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: washington Posts: 4,178	Re: Dist rotor mystery Well it can show you who and when but it don't get them cought unfortunately. No having a break beam laser hooked up to a horn will let you know when they are there Posted via Mobile Device __________________ 377 sbc thumpr cam autogear m23 muncie 3:73 Detroit trutrac 3''spintech prostreet mufflers xpipe 1 3/4 headers build thread !http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=577217 Iroc gauge threadhttp://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=554511

03-20-2012, 12:13 AM	#13
jhngardner367 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Austin, Arkansas Posts: 248	Re: Dist rotor mystery Hah!! Got 'em on video!Around 3am,the sensor tripped the dvr,and the cam caught 'em in the act! He still had his head under the hood,when I came up behind him,with my .380. The little SOB had my dist cap,and wires off,and was working on pulling the distributor,itself! I called the cops,before I went out,and he just sat on the ground,until they cuffed him! There's a dead end alley behind my house,that all the people on my street use for parking.He had parked at the open end,and was walking to my truck! Cops have the video,and other parts he stole were in his truck! __________________ Always expect the unexpected,....but don't expect the unexpected to be the unexpected you expect ! I'm busier than a one-legged cat,in a sandbox! Veteran..and proud ! I can't fix what ain't broke....you want I should break it?

03-20-2012, 09:57 AM	#14
kelsfine69 18 Till I Die Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 1,522	Re: Dist rotor mystery That is Awesome!!!, I like to see the look on his face when you said "Hey Boy, Whatcha Doing"!!..."Go Ahead make My Day" __________________ 2011 GMC Acadia 1969 GMC BBC LS7 2007 GMC Crew Duramax 1987 Camaro Iroc 350 Tuned Port Injection 42000Km 1987 Chevrolet Silverado 350 TBI 1987 Chevrolet Silverado 350 TBI(yes 2) Take me drunk, I'm too home...

03-20-2012, 10:02 AM	#15
Your41Plague12 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,009	Re: Dist rotor mystery I love it. Glad you got the SOB that did it. 67-72: 1 Bad guys: 0 __________________ Steve Member of the Foot Pedal Club '83 Chevy K20: 6" Rough Country, 3" Performance Accessories BL, Bushwacker Cutouts, 38x15.50 Mickey Thompson Baja Claws, 350 HP 350 crate engine from Jegs, Turbo 400



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03-20-2012, 10:23 AM	#16
Dieselholic92 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Lynd, Minnesota Posts: 201	Re: Dist rotor mystery That's awesome! __________________ Semi professional heavy equipment operator Amateur mechanic

03-20-2012, 10:31 AM	#17
Tucson38 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Tucson Arizona Posts: 164	Re: Dist rotor mystery Amazing story.

03-20-2012, 11:05 AM	#18
jhngardner367 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Austin, Arkansas Posts: 248	Re: Dist rotor mystery Yah,but the cops were a little upset. He kinda soiled himself,when the .380 touched him !LOL ! One of the cops said this guy hadn't been out too long,from another bust. AND I found out how he got the hood open. He had a small, hard-steel rod,and one end was bent,like a question mark. he could slip it in and hook the latch,and move it to the side,and it opened the latch. I tried to get a better look at it,but they took it as evidence. I guess,if they really want in,they'll find a way! __________________ Always expect the unexpected,....but don't expect the unexpected to be the unexpected you expect ! I'm busier than a one-legged cat,in a sandbox! Veteran..and proud ! I can't fix what ain't broke....you want I should break it?

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.