distributer hold down not holding(HELP) - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

oldschooler · 04-10-2007, 03:11 PM

Hi Everyone, I am having trouble with my dist. drifting around. I bought a new chrome hold down and still having same problem. I took stock hold down and bent it a little at the ends and still no luck. Could it be that my dist. is worn out? It is a small block built in 1995, not by me. I just bought the truck a couple of months ago. This problem came with the truck

Tman · 04-10-2007, 03:16 PM

Could the hold down bolt be to long and be bottoming in the threads b4 clamping the dist. down? Can you move the dist. by hand after tightening the hold down?

RACINJASON22 · 04-10-2007, 03:16 PM

I was gonna say bend it a little till I read that part.....hmmmm. You said you bent the old one at the ends so I might suggest that it really needs to have a kind of arch to it say like a leaf spring so to speak. If this is what you did then you got me stumped. I can't see a dizzy itself wearing out at this area IMO.
Tman has a very good point also.

BUDDY · 04-10-2007, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tman

Could the hold down bolt be to long and be bottoming in the threads b4 clamping the dist. down? Can you move the dist. by hand after tightening the hold down?

If this is the problem it's easily fixed. Just slam a washer or two under there until it gets tight & stays tight.

Later,
Buddy

70-Chevy · 04-10-2007, 03:31 PM

Do you have the little o-ring distributor gasket in? I thought of this since I just put a distributor in for my dad this past weekend and had the same problem. Good luck

Chris

oldschooler · 04-10-2007, 03:38 PM

Thanks for the info, I dont know about the rubber gasket, i'll have to check. I thought about the bolt being too long and put a stud in the intake w/a nut. I also thought about the washers under the hold down but afraid of it vibrating out, I guess I could weld the washers to the hold down. Thanks again for the info. Later, oldschooler

oldschooler · 04-10-2007, 03:41 PM

I did forget to mention. Yes it will turn by hand, pretty freely.

Bryan68custom · 04-10-2007, 03:57 PM

I had a problem with an edelbrock intake once and the only fix that I found that worked was a short stud that I put locktite on and used a nut with the washer made to it on top of the hold down

BUDDY · 04-10-2007, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldschooler

Thanks for the info, I dont know about the rubber gasket, i'll have to check. I thought about the bolt being too long and put a stud in the intake w/a nut. I also thought about the washers under the hold down but afraid of it vibrating out, I guess I could weld the washers to the hold down. Thanks again for the info. Later, oldschooler

If you have a stud, the just put a jam nut on top. Once you figure out what the problem is, of course.

Later,
Buddy

jhow66 · 04-10-2007, 04:34 PM

Throw the chrome one away (pop metal) and get a cast iron one (stock type). Problem solved. The chrome ones just bend flat when you tighten them. If that does not work your manifold may be thin at the dist. hole. Add another gasket or two under dist.

corn · 04-10-2007, 08:14 PM

I bet if you pull the clamp you will notice the distributor base sits up just a bit too high. Just double the gasket, & problem solved...

oldschooler · 04-14-2007, 06:39 AM

Thanks for all the info guys. Two problems fixed with one solution. I pulled dizzy and found the gasket was saturated with oil and very compressed. I replaced gasket and stock hold down works fine now. Also I figured out a puddle of oil, which I thought was from previous owner sloppily adding oil, was actually oil leaking out from under dizzy. Thanks again

corn · 04-14-2007, 11:59 AM

Glad to see you got it fixed. Good job...

*rage'nrat638* · 04-27-2007, 06:04 PM

WAY TO GO BROTHER..

i love it when a plan come's together

JAKES 68GMC · 04-27-2007, 08:38 PM

Like on the A-Team, its just great when the plan comes together in the end.

piecesparts · 04-27-2007, 08:49 PM

Replace the bolt with a stud and then once the bolt is set in firm (using LOCKTITE), use a good nut to hold the dizzy clamp. The aluminum intakes can get the threads slightly worn and bolts do not hold.

mexgrhd68 · 04-28-2007, 02:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhow66

Throw the chrome one away (pop metal) and get a cast iron one (stock type). Problem solved. The chrome ones just bend flat when you tighten them. If that does not work your manifold may be thin at the dist. hole. Add another gasket or two under dist.

I agree, those chrome hold downs are worth a @!#$##@!!

Chrome hold downs, they suck!!

04-10-2007, 03:11 PM	#1
oldschooler Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: spring grove, Pa. Posts: 538	distributer hold down not holding(HELP) Hi Everyone, I am having trouble with my dist. drifting around. I bought a new chrome hold down and still having same problem. I took stock hold down and bent it a little at the ends and still no luck. Could it be that my dist. is worn out? It is a small block built in 1995, not by me. I just bought the truck a couple of months ago. This problem came with the truck Attached Images

04-10-2007, 03:16 PM	#2
Tman Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Reynolds, ND Posts: 78	Re: distributer hold down not holding(HELP) Could the hold down bolt be to long and be bottoming in the threads b4 clamping the dist. down? Can you move the dist. by hand after tightening the hold down?

04-10-2007, 03:16 PM	#3
RACINJASON22 GEARHEAD Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: CENTRAL,PA Posts: 2,284	Re: distributer hold down not holding(HELP) I was gonna say bend it a little till I read that part.....hmmmm. You said you bent the old one at the ends so I might suggest that it really needs to have a kind of arch to it say like a leaf spring so to speak. If this is what you did then you got me stumped. I can't see a dizzy itself wearing out at this area IMO. Tman has a very good point also. __________________ 72 SWB 2WD MY PROJECT 72 LWB 4X4 FUTURE PROJECT SUBSCRIBE HEREBOARD VENDORS HERE NORWOOD MEET SURVIVOR! Last edited by RACINJASON22; 04-10-2007 at 03:20 PM.

04-10-2007, 03:31 PM	#5
70-Chevy -Chris Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Moyock, NC Posts: 622	Re: distributer hold down not holding(HELP) Do you have the little o-ring distributor gasket in? I thought of this since I just put a distributor in for my dad this past weekend and had the same problem. Good luck Chris __________________ 1970 Chevy C-10 P/U, Shortbed, Fleetside - 5/7 drop, 496, TH400, 12 bolt. BUILD THREAD - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=404481 2012 F250 Super Duty P/U - intake, exhaust, tuner, 4" lift with 35's 2017 Chevy Suburban (Wifes Car) - Fully Loaded & Stock "Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem." Ronald Reagan, President of the United States; 1985

04-10-2007, 03:38 PM	#6
oldschooler Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: spring grove, Pa. Posts: 538	Re: distributer hold down not holding(HELP) Thanks for the info, I dont know about the rubber gasket, i'll have to check. I thought about the bolt being too long and put a stud in the intake w/a nut. I also thought about the washers under the hold down but afraid of it vibrating out, I guess I could weld the washers to the hold down. Thanks again for the info. Later, oldschooler

04-10-2007, 03:41 PM	#7
oldschooler Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: spring grove, Pa. Posts: 538	Re: distributer hold down not holding(HELP) I did forget to mention. Yes it will turn by hand, pretty freely.

04-10-2007, 03:57 PM	#8
Bryan68custom Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Denison, Tx. Posts: 189	Re: distributer hold down not holding(HELP) I had a problem with an edelbrock intake once and the only fix that I found that worked was a short stud that I put locktite on and used a nut with the washer made to it on top of the hold down __________________ 2004 Extended cab LS silverado 2001 Buick Lesabre 1968 Chevy Custom 10 LWB Anniversery model 2008 crew cab lt (rolling on dubs) "The nice part about living in a small town is when you don't know what you're doing, someone else always does"

04-10-2007, 04:34 PM	#10
jhow66 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Knoxville Tenn. Posts: 3,058	Re: distributer hold down not holding(HELP) Throw the chrome one away (pop metal) and get a cast iron one (stock type). Problem solved. The chrome ones just bend flat when you tighten them. If that does not work your manifold may be thin at the dist. hole. Add another gasket or two under dist. __________________ 56 Chevy Bel-Air 2dr. HT (purchased new) 71 Chevy Cheyenne SWB PU (502HO) 65 GMC short bed step--work in progress and my gofer Last edited by jhow66; 04-10-2007 at 04:37 PM.

04-10-2007, 08:14 PM	#11
corn Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: here Posts: 5,789	Re: distributer hold down not holding(HELP) I bet if you pull the clamp you will notice the distributor base sits up just a bit too high. Just double the gasket, & problem solved...

04-14-2007, 06:39 AM	#12
oldschooler Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: spring grove, Pa. Posts: 538	Re: distributer hold down not holding(HELP) Thanks for all the info guys. Two problems fixed with one solution. I pulled dizzy and found the gasket was saturated with oil and very compressed. I replaced gasket and stock hold down works fine now. Also I figured out a puddle of oil, which I thought was from previous owner sloppily adding oil, was actually oil leaking out from under dizzy. Thanks again

04-14-2007, 11:59 AM	#13
corn Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: here Posts: 5,789	Re: distributer hold down not holding(HELP) Glad to see you got it fixed. Good job...

04-27-2007, 06:04 PM	#14
rage'nrat638 Account Suspended Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: THE FALL GUY CHICAGO IL Posts: 5,883	Re: distributer hold down not holding(HELP) WAY TO GO BROTHER.. i love it when a plan come's together

04-27-2007, 08:38 PM	#15
JAKES 68GMC Aluminum slot wheels rule... Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Maine Posts: 6,212	Re: distributer hold down not holding(HELP) Like on the A-Team, its just great when the plan comes together in the end. Last edited by JAKES 68GMC; 04-27-2007 at 08:39 PM.

04-27-2007, 08:49 PM	#16
piecesparts Parts and more parts Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lebo, Kansas (middle of nowhere Posts: 6,821	Re: distributer hold down not holding(HELP) Replace the bolt with a stud and then once the bolt is set in firm (using LOCKTITE), use a good nut to hold the dizzy clamp. The aluminum intakes can get the threads slightly worn and bolts do not hold.



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