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MG MGA - time for new distributor?

Well got the timeing and wires back into the right position , thanks for all the help.

Took off the valvue cover and used a long wooden dowel to tell when the piston was tdc.

Now I have the problem agian, the distributor does not seem to seat far ehough into the houseing, There is a wicked taper. And it will not hold tight no matter how tight the clamp is.

So is it time for a new clamp? New distributor.

Which distributor would you go for? Would prefer to go electronic. How about the flame thrower from Moss?

Any other ones to consider?

Russell
R Egge

It sounds like the distributor drive dog is not engaged with the drive gear slot. If you check the Shop Manual or Barney's web site
http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/ignition/ig103.htm

you will see that the slot on the drive gear is offset to match the offset on the distributor drive, so the distributor drive will only engage one way. If it is not in the slot then the distributor will sit too high in the clamp.

I suggest that fully loosen the distributor clamp and push the distributor down while rotating the the distributor rotor back and forth until the drive gear is fully engaged. I believe that you find that the distributor will seat properly and the clamp will hold it in place.

If you still have the valve cover off, you can easily check for #1 piston on TDC by aligning the timing notch on the (crank shaft pully) with the longest pointer on the bottom of the timing chain cover and then looking at #1 and #2 valves (if both are closed, then #1 cylinder is on the compression stroke and at TDC.) The rotor should be pointing toward #1 plug. That assumes that the distributor drive gear is installed in the correct orientation as explained in Barney's article. He also has a great article on setting the ignition timimg which you will have to do once you get the distributor installed.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.
Don Carlberg
Don Carlberg

The dog is seated, its just that the distributor doesn't fit completley into the clamp. Took of the clamp and distributor, fit them together then tried to both the clamp back to the block. Too little room and too late at night.

Russell
R Egge

This thread was discussed on 14/10/2007

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This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.