How to rebuild a standard points distributor | Hagerty DIY

If your distributor isn’t working correctly, you’re gonna have a bad time. As an integral part of your engine’s ignition system, it’s imperative that it operates correctly. There are some relatively simple fixes for distributor problems, like changing your points and condenser or installing a new cap and rotor, but sometimes it needs a full teardown and rebuild. Fortunately, Hagerty’s Davin Reckow is here to help as he walks you through the detailed steps in rebuilding a standard points distributor from a Ford 289 V-8 engine.

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[williamhendry]

Wonderful. Thank you so much for taking time to show the details properly. No silly razamatz, no annoying music. Just good sensible teaching. Very useful and gives me the confidence to go ahead and do the job. Please please make more of these quality videos.

[johnstrathman]

Excellent how-to video! This gave me the confidence and know how to tear down, clean and reassemble a filthy, greasy, cruddy LoadOMatic distributor for my Ford 200 Ci Falcon engine. I rented a 3-prong puller at O'Reilly's, free of charge, and had the cam gear off in 10 minutes. Most every step was the same as in the video except removal of the breaker plate. There is a really thin metal ring at the top of the shaft that holds the plate in place. Carefully pry it off with a pick or awl. Thanks, Devin!

[_Falcon]

Thanks so much for the videos. I'll 16 so I've never seen to many cars with points but I recently got a 64 falcon with a 170 six and the points are shot. This video is super helpful to me. I'm thinking once saving up switching to electronic ignition. Thanks keep making awesome content

[josephiacovelli]

Enjoyed the video, very informative. My only question is why did you not clean the distributer first? It is so much easier to work clean over working dirty. Thanks for the excellent block of instruction.

[RjsEpicAdventures]

i love longer instructional videos like this on older vehicle maintenance its my dream to own some type of old vehicle they just last forever

[petrolmonkey]

Eyyy thanks, I have a Chrysler 413 and I didn't wanna spend a bunch on a new distributor but now I don't have to. Thanks hagerty!

[bagusprihastomo]

I don't have any old ford or chevy but we have some japanese & euro car here that share the similar principle like this, so your video was a great source to find any information that I need to fix mine. Thanks a lot!

[kenmello]

Hi David, You are mistaken about not being able to use the puller to drive the shaft out. The center screw will push the shaft out and the housing acts as a solid base.

[jeffschlemmer]

Ford gears are a press fit and its highly possible to mess up the hex oil pump drive if you use a puller. When you check side play in the shaft, check with the shaft fully installed. At that point, there should be virtually no perceptible side play and the shaft should spin free. NEVER EVER grease the distributor shaft or advance weights. The solids in grease will clog the pores in the shaft bushings, and it will gum up the advance action over time.

[Chevroldsmobuiac]

Every time I see the innards of a distributor, I'm extremely grateful for electronic ignition.

[josephpetito]

Nicely done, and great camera work too that keeps everything in sight.

[roundtuitracingaz]

Just wanted to add my 2 cents - I used a small section of oil pump drive shaft to insert into the dist shaft to hammer on so I would not damage the dist shaft. I always used a brass mallet (or brass rod) when hammering on the gear unless it was being replaced with a bronze gear. Do not use oven cleaner on aluminum ever! It contains lye which dissolves aluminum. The roll pins are 1/8th inch diameter, I used the next size smaller drift punch to remove them and a larger one to install them. Use the heavy duty pins from industrial hardware suppliers, they won't shear like the stock type ones. The big problem I had rebuilding ford distributors was how loose the top bushing to shaft fit was. Even with new bushings I had too much wobble. It wasn't until this year I learned of metal spray welding. That would fix the worn shaft and fix the wobble.

[tj]

This is perfect for me have a couple of 200ci i6 distributors to rebuild thank you for the help

[parkwayconcepts]

(Shameless plug for finger magnet)...now I want one!

[lynnhoskins]

great video devin thanks to you and hagerty and one at normal speed doesn't get no better than that cheers

[kburton]

Excellent video! Very well done, thank you.

[ELDIABLO]

Not bad at all
You get a new subscription
All the best to you and yours Sir.

[MarieVeneo-kt]

Great, love your videos but do you have video for 2E engine Toyota Corolla rebuild?

[dinnydj]

Could you guys possibly do a rebuild video on a inline straight 6 engine? I'm working on an all original 51 Chevrolet short box and would like to see what kind of a job it would be. Love your videos very educational!

[johnmccarthy]

Very nice video, but it would have been a good idea to hold the dizzzy in a vice.