Evil Suspicion, Load-a-matic

Ronbo

Famous Member
Wonder what the chances are that I have a load-a-matic distributor with the newer style vacuum advance canister stuck on it?? Can that even be done? Knowing the quality of parts these days I SHOULD have pulled it apart to see if it had centrifugal advance but I didn't. :oops:

Ron
 
Jack,
When I set the timing to a reasonable setting, say 12 degrees, it idles fine but I cant drive the car (dies when you try to move). I can coax it into moving but it is dangerous as you never know when it will stall. If I advance the timing to 25 degrees (the mark is up under the water pump) I can drive it, still sluggish but you can manage. Damper is good, about everything is new from the rebuild, can't figure it out. I looked for a vacuum leak but I'm not finding it. I never knew how a load a matic worked until today. I know what it looks like so if I see one I can throw it away. I'm running a h/w 5200 and Pertronix to make things a little more simple. I'm going to pull the cap anyways and dig into the distributor as soon as I get home to ease my suspicions :lol:

Ron
 
Howdy Back Ron:

It's easy to tell a LoM from a later style distributor. When you take off the cap you will see two small advance return springs right on top. On the later style with centrifugal advance, the springs are under the point plate.

With a 5200 you will like a later style distributor for vacuum as well as mechanical advance.

YOur problem sounds like more then a carb distributor mismatch.

Adios, David
 
Thanks David, that made it easy, no springs on top. I'm back to thinking vacuum leak somewhere. I can't tinker with it until Saturday now, supposed to rain then though :roll: I'll get it eventually. Can't wait to see what I bumbled up. :lol:

Ron

Unless the centrifugal advance is stuck/not working! (Need a smiley with a light bulb over its head here)
 
Ahem, I figured it was something "stupid". How about "never tightened the spark plugs up"? Lifter noise disappeared with that one also (blow-by around the plugs). I used the old plugs to protect the threads and keep dirt/moisture out. Also used 'em for start up, just never tightened them up :roll: Still rolls like an electric car though. Dead smooth all the way up to 80mph. I was hoping to get a little more umph after the rebuild. I still need to mess with the centrifugal advance to get the timing up a bit faster but I guess those 2.83 gears are just going to keep it in the shopping cart category. At least I have AC for the summer! 8) Thanks for the help guys!

Ron
 
ha- thats funny- and i was just about to ask if you needed help out there. Glad you got it figured out! :)
 
Oh yeah, well how about replacing a coil and starter solenoid, only to figure out you were trying to start the car in "D" :p (forgot I had the shifter there when I replaced a CD in the deck) I already had both on hand and was planning on replacing them anyway.
Most of us I think have done something like that, but just be glad it didnt get expensive learning the root ccause! ;)
 
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