BenT

Thank you for the input! It does appear my points are opening and closing - but could use adjustment - closer. Thank you. I will try that. I am trying to crank the car over with a new 6Volt battery which is installed. I agree - it doesn't seem to crank fast enough. Perhaps it should spend some time on the charger or I should look at something with more Cold cranking amps. As for the distributor plate - I have to figure out where and how it should be secure. Knowing its not supposed to be doing that - I can approach the mechanic who rebuilt it and ask him what is wrong or not secure. I will also address the wires and report back with an update soon.

Hello, I am new to the group and appreciate the chance to rely on your experiences and know how. I had the distributor for my 1937 Buick special straight 8 rebuilt recently, got it installed and tried to crank the motor over. Experiencing a loss in spark. Popped the cap off and tried cranking the engine and noticed on this video I've uploaded to youtube that the distributor plate seems to move at 0:14 - 0:16. Dumb question first: Is that supposed to happen? I think probably not. How do I prevent that from occurring if that is the cause of my spark loss during start up? I think I see a machined hole off the to the top of the image.... should a set screw be in there? Did I just install the distributor shaft incorrectly altogether? I greatly appreciate any insight into this oddity.

Hello and help! I am attempting to get running the 1937 Buick Model 40 Special that my dad left to me. He may have had it running 11 years ago then removed the carb, distributor and master cylinder for rebuild. I had all 3 of those done this last summer and now are reinstalled. We hooked up a 6v battery and began cranking after installing new cap, wires, rotor and rebuilt distributor. The coil is new unused, but likely installed by my father 11 years ago. * I am not getting spark out of the cap - seems the points are not making consistent contact. As I cranked the engine and my brother observed the rotor - the plate on which the rotor sits seems to be wobbling and loose. Should this be the case? It seems odd and likely related to loss of contact. * I am getting power at the 2 terminals on the coil. They slowly dim sort of flash when cranking but never go all the way out when evaluated with a test light. This is not easy for 2 guys born at the outset of the electronic ignition and fuel injection age! - BenT

Possibly could be a more obscure model like a 1913-19 Velie or 1914-1917 American Underslung I saw once. The headlights and shaped cowl between the Windscreen and engine hood remind me of one I saw once.