Distributor Cap Question '88 GW

[warmblood58]

I picked up a new distributor cap for my '88 GW and noticed that the old cap was loose - I think the spring clips were stretched out a little so will re-bend them to create a tighter fit - old cap actually wobbled a little! The other question I have is that I am used to caps having a definite fit with the cutouts allowing for only one position but it seems to me that the cap more or less relies on the clips simply lining up with the indents on the distributor cap for alignment - is this correct? Thanks!

[wiley-moeracing]

Not sure if I understand the question fully? The cap is held down to the distributor by the 2 spring clips or some by screws, the cap location is by the notch lining up the cap to the distributor.

[warmblood58]

Thanks, so normally, if you rotate a cap, it will rotate and then drop down into little notches that more or less lock it into position, it remains fixed this way, then, the spring clips lock it down vertically so the cap cannot pop off. It seems my cap is aligned by just the clips and clip holders on the cap, in other words I could just keep rotating the cap endlessly (with clips unclipped) as there are no real locating notches -

[wiley-moeracing]

Then you will need a new cap, the locating tab is broken off. You will have to have a little down pressure when installing to make sure the tab locks into the correct position as the rotor has a little spring tension on it pushing the cap upwards.

[tgreese]

The Motorcraft V8 distributors have a tab on the distributor body that keeps the cap from moving. This is held with a screw. If the tab is missing, the cap will fit but it will be able to rotate a few degrees when clipped on. This is not part of the cap, but screwed into the body of the distributor.

BTDT; the distributor for my CJ-6 is a remanufactured Motorcraft replacement for the original Prestolite, and came with no tab. Apparently the rebuilder's remove the tab and screw and discard them. You are expected to take the tab from your core and install it on the new distributor.

You can make a replacement tab. I used a piece of 1/8" G10 circuit board, but anything will work.

[warmblood58]

Eureka! Had not thought that that tab was held in with a screw - I must have a remanufactured unit or the original tab was removed for some reason - I thought there was something wonky about my setup -thanks!

[warmblood58]

The Motorcraft V8 distributors have a tab on the distributor body that keeps the cap from moving. This is held with a screw. If the tab is missing, the cap will fit but it will be able to rotate a few degrees when clipped on. This is not part of the cap, but screwed into the body of the distributor.

BTDT; the distributor for my CJ-6 is a remanufactured Motorcraft replacement for the original Prestolite, and came with no tab. Apparently the rebuilder's remove the tab and screw and discard them. You are expected to take the tab from your core and install it on the new distributor.

You can make a replacement tab. I used a piece of 1/8" G10 circuit board, but anything will work.

And ironically, after a futile search for a replacement vacuum advance canister (mine was bad) - the easier route was a remaned distributor from Napa that came with a new vac advance and .. . no tab! the tab mount point takes a 8-32 machine screw, tomorrow, I make a tab from some aluminum stock and refit

[tgreese]

And ironically, after a futile search for a replacement vacuum advance canister (mine was bad) - the easier route was a remaned distributor from Napa that came with a new vac advance and .. . no tab! the tab mount point takes a 8-32 machine screw, tomorrow, I make a tab from some aluminum stock and refit

It's not a service part. Does not appear in the parts manual, which makes it part of the distributor body. You could argue that the rebuilders are ruining these distributors by removing and discarding that part.

Find a used distributor in the junkyard. No other source, other than to make the part.

[warmblood58]

It's not a service part. Does not appear in the parts manual, which makes it part of the distributor body. You could argue that the rebuilders are ruining these distributors by removing and discarding that part.

Find a used distributor in the junkyard. No other source, other than to make the part.

Yep, made the tab today, very easy to make, done!