Help with distributor identification

brintrot

brintrot

Active Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2011
Location
Raleigh
What brand is this distributor, I am looking for information on how to adjust the timing with it. Thanks for the help.
 

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To be honest I am not quite sure what I want. The Jeep is running rich and I have not been able to lean it out with just a carb adjustment. I am at 14 inches of mercury on the vac gauge. From what I have read I need about 17 inches of mercury. I am open to anything. Other than the rich smell though the Jeep runs fantastic so I don't want to do too much.
 
brintrot said:
To be honest I am not quite sure what I want. The Jeep is running rich and I have not been able to lean it out with just a carb adjustment. I am at 14 inches of mercury on the vac gauge. From what I have read I need about 17 inches of mercury. I am open to anything. Other than the rich smell though the Jeep runs fantastic so I don't want to do too much.
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"Rich" is usually a function of the carb, not the dizzy, but can see where you're going.

You probably need to tell us what you're working with here! The picture leads me to believe it's an AMC V8 (by dizzy placement), but need to confirm what displacement, carb/intake, and any other pertinent info (mods, etc).

It's hard, but do not confuse "rich smell" with stinking due to old CAT-less design or CATs being removed. My '72 still has a "smell" (despite the TBI being tuned pretty well) for the first reason and my '91 Mustang GT just plain stinks due to the second... neither are running rich.
 
Ok, thanks dave.

It is an AMC 304 with a mild cam. The carb is an edelbrock 1406. Now that you mention it...I have noticed something weird on the carb. I can screw in the left mixture screw and make the engine stutter, I bring it back out to the highest vacuum 14 inHG and when I try leaning the right screw I cannot get the engine too stutter. Could it be the jets are not matched?
 
ditto what caver said.
a quick exhuast probe would tell a lot regarrding where you are in relation to stoich.
 
brintrot said:
It is an AMC 304 with a mild cam. The carb is an edelbrock 1406.
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Now we're going places! :D

brintrot said:
I can screw in the left mixture screw and make the engine stutter
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Desired operation there...
brintrot said:
and when I try leaning the right screw I cannot get the engine too stutter. Could it be the jets are not matched?
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Not necessarily the jets (they typically aren't involved until off idle> 100rpms), but it sounds like you might have clogged idle circuit on that side. Is the carb a 2 or 4 barrel?
My MC2100 (2bbl) was notorious for clogging jets/idle circuits at random, despite double-filtering :rolleyes:

brintrot said:
Where can that be done?
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I'm guessing you'd need a shop that specializes in tuning, as the avg doesn't have "sniffers" any more?
 
If your up to it i'm pretty sure there are videos on that edelbrock carb, I have one on a 302 ford and it runs great. I also rebuild one before and they are pretty simple. But I'd try cleaning the carb out with some carb cleaner (spray the inside, prob gonna be a little dirty) and readjust the mixture screws. Turn the screw in until the engine stutters/stumbles and then turn out 1/2 turn, do this for both. This will get you in the ballpark, the only exact way is a sniffer.
 
a/f ratio meters are available and cheap enough.

think i paid $20 ? for the one ive got. if its emission equipped and has an intact cat its basically useless.
Autometer sells a guage and probe for $50
 
Thank you Dave and Ron!....I did not touch my timing or advance but I did go out and by a new carb. The main reason I bought a new carb is I had no idea of the history of this one (jetting,metering rods). I changed out all the carb studs to longer ones (ask me why...I might have stripped one) because there is a throttle body spacer on it. I have a feeling I might have been losing a little vacuum because the carb was not fully seated as well (hence the longer bolts). I turned the engine on, and it started right up (which never happened before) tuned perfectly to 17 inHG and it runs better than it ever has with basically only a hint of smell.

Thank you so much for not letting me mess with the timing and telling me to look at the carb issues.
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