disributor moisture problems - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

71chevylongbed · 12-31-2005, 03:23 AM

it has been pretty wet around here lately rain everyday for last 2 weeks and the HEI dist. in my truck keeps getting moisture in the base around the electronics not alot but it feels damp. it idles really rough at like 350-400 rpm and likes to die and when im crusing at a steady speed i can feel it cutting out the tach drops about 100 rpms when it happens until i have driven it for at least 30 minutes and get it really warmed up. what can i do to fix the problem i thought about spraying some wd40 in it but im not sure if that would mess electronic things up. any ideas?????

Zeke · 12-31-2005, 07:06 AM

Mine had hood to cowl sealing problems (rust) and if I parked with the truck on a slight incline water would drip on the vacuum advance plate and run into the distributor. It didn't even have to rain just the dew would collect and drip. Two modules later I smeared some dielectric silicone on the bottom of the module and terminals and haven't had a problem since. I also try to park the truck level or facing uphill and keep a spare module in the glove box.

**'68OrangeSunshine** · 12-31-2005, 08:09 AM

I've gotten out of the ditch [or running flooded street] more than once by shooting WD-40 inside the distributor cap and putting it back on. The L6 distributer is a lot more susceptible to splash-up than the V8. I've never had the problem in a V8. This was with the points-type dizzy.

**special-K** · 12-31-2005, 08:21 AM

If you have a black cap get rid of it.A Standard Blue Streak or tan cap will give better service Blabk caps are junk.I had a mechanic prove it to me years ago.After hauling me into his shop and out of the rain,he removed my new black cap,tossed it in the can,reached down in the same can,pulled a nasty looking tan cap out,and put it on my truck.He said he took it off a woman`s car that day when he tuned it up with 30,000 miles since the last tune-up.The truck fired up and ran well until I got a chance to get a new one.That was in Ft.Pierce,FL after traveling from Maryland.After living there a while,I remembered,"oh yeah,oughta change that old cap."

71chevylongbed · 01-01-2006, 05:39 AM

thanks! i never thought about water getting in buy the vac. adv. i'll see if i can seal it up

71chevylongbed · 01-01-2006, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by special-K

If you have a black cap get rid of it.A Standard Blue Streak or tan cap will give better service Blabk caps are junk.I had a mechanic prove it to me years ago.After hauling me into his shop and out of the rain,he removed my new black cap,tossed it in the can,reached down in the same can,pulled a nasty looking tan cap out,and put it on my truck.He said he took it off a woman`s car that day when he tuned it up with 30,000 miles since the last tune-up.The truck fired up and ran well until I got a chance to get a new one.That was in Ft.Pierce,FL after traveling from Maryland.After living there a while,I remembered,"oh yeah,oughta change that old cap."

did he explain to you why the tan caps are better than the black ones?

**special-K** · 01-01-2006, 02:21 PM

Yeah,quality of the bakelight.The black ones are light and cheap replacement parts.The upscale ones are more dense andless prone to hairline cracks and other causes of moisture intrusion.Although the black cap was new,I had serious carbon-tracking.

12-31-2005, 03:23 AM	#1
71chevylongbed Got Horsepower? Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: IDAHO Posts: 406	distributor moisture problems it has been pretty wet around here lately rain everyday for last 2 weeks and the HEI dist. in my truck keeps getting moisture in the base around the electronics not alot but it feels damp. it idles really rough at like 350-400 rpm and likes to die and when im crusing at a steady speed i can feel it cutting out the tach drops about 100 rpms when it happens until i have driven it for at least 30 minutes and get it really warmed up. what can i do to fix the problem i thought about spraying some wd40 in it but im not sure if that would mess electronic things up. any ideas????? __________________ 2001 Dodge 2500 Cummins, 4 inch lift, 35" Toyo MT's on Ultra wheels, P-Pump Conversion, AFE intake, Fass, 5 inch exhaust, Pyro,Boost,and Fuel pressure guages, and a whole bunch of other stuff "The Money Pit" SOLD-71 Chevy C10 long bed- 2/4 drop-- 350,th400, Edelbrock performer RPM intake,Edelbrock 600 CFM carb,Crower 240 cam,port and polish,Dynomax headers,HEI ignition,dual 2.5 inch exhaust with Flowmaster 50 series mufflers Last edited by 71chevylongbed; 12-31-2005 at 03:25 AM.

12-31-2005, 07:06 AM	#2
Zeke Active Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: L.A. Lower Alabama Posts: 453	Re: disributor moisture problems Mine had hood to cowl sealing problems (rust) and if I parked with the truck on a slight incline water would drip on the vacuum advance plate and run into the distributor. It didn't even have to rain just the dew would collect and drip. Two modules later I smeared some dielectric silicone on the bottom of the module and terminals and haven't had a problem since. I also try to park the truck level or facing uphill and keep a spare module in the glove box. __________________ 1969 C10 350 3spd 1995 GMC 3500 XC 350 dually When Thomas Edison worked late into the night on the electric light, he had to do it by gas lamp or candle. I'm sure it made the work seem that much more urgent. George Carlin

12-31-2005, 08:09 AM	#3
'68OrangeSunshine Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Tucson, AZ USA Posts: 7,208	Re: disributor moisture problems I've gotten out of the ditch [or running flooded street] more than once by shooting WD-40 inside the distributor cap and putting it back on. The L6 distributer is a lot more susceptible to splash-up than the V8. I've never had the problem in a V8. This was with the points-type dizzy. __________________ Every 25 years I like to rebuild that 292, whether it needs it or not.

12-31-2005, 08:21 AM	#4
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,861	Re: disributor moisture problems If you have a black cap get rid of it.A Standard Blue Streak or tan cap will give better service Blabk caps are junk.I had a mechanic prove it to me years ago.After hauling me into his shop and out of the rain,he removed my new black cap,tossed it in the can,reached down in the same can,pulled a nasty looking tan cap out,and put it on my truck.He said he took it off a woman`s car that day when he tuned it up with 30,000 miles since the last tune-up.The truck fired up and ran well until I got a chance to get a new one.That was in Ft.Pierce,FL after traveling from Maryland.After living there a while,I remembered,"oh yeah,oughta change that old cap." __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

01-01-2006, 05:39 AM	#5
71chevylongbed Got Horsepower? Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: IDAHO Posts: 406	Re: disributor moisture problems thanks! i never thought about water getting in buy the vac. adv. i'll see if i can seal it up __________________ 2001 Dodge 2500 Cummins, 4 inch lift, 35" Toyo MT's on Ultra wheels, P-Pump Conversion, AFE intake, Fass, 5 inch exhaust, Pyro,Boost,and Fuel pressure guages, and a whole bunch of other stuff "The Money Pit" SOLD-71 Chevy C10 long bed- 2/4 drop-- 350,th400, Edelbrock performer RPM intake,Edelbrock 600 CFM carb,Crower 240 cam,port and polish,Dynomax headers,HEI ignition,dual 2.5 inch exhaust with Flowmaster 50 series mufflers

01-01-2006, 02:21 PM	#7
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,861	Re: disributor moisture problems Yeah,quality of the bakelight.The black ones are light and cheap replacement parts.The upscale ones are more dense andless prone to hairline cracks and other causes of moisture intrusion.Although the black cap was new,I had serious carbon-tracking. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~



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