Expert: Roger J.M. Warrington - 3/9/2005

Question
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Followup To
Question -
Engine is 1965 327 c.i. V8 in a 1965 Corvette w/ mechanical tach drive.
I have replaced the vac. advance as the rod and hold down arms were bent. How/why, I have no idea. I now suspect that the centrifugal advance may not be working properly because of the way the engine performs(stumbles on acceleration). How can I check to see if the distributor is faulty? New distributors are pricey and difficult to find.
Answer -
what you just told me states that it might not be working and if you watch the arm or linkage you should see it move when you give  the motor gas while lookin under the hood at the dist. you can also try to plug the vacume to the dist. and take a drive than again with it hooked up and see the difference ok.

Additional question:
When the engine is running, there is nothing to be seen within the distributor. Only the vac advance diaphram canister can be seen, not the movement of the rod which causes the advance. The distributor does not move(like on some older chevys) as if is clamped stationary. I am reasonably certain that the vac advance works, but I am not sure that the centrifugal advance works(maybe it is binding some how?).  

Answer
ok
   if you are still having a prob. I would go up with the timeing 2 and see what that does it might fix it for you.  or  you could take the dist. drill the plate so it can not move and get a weight kit for it  for a mech. type dist. or buy a h.d. dist. ?  you have checked all options as far as the dist. goes right.