Dauntless mechanical advance failure.

I was driving the dauntless around town the other day and noticed wierd idleing and the tach was going all over the place. Almost home, a loud gunshot sound came from my exhaust. I thought for sure the points were in need of service. When I pulled the distributor cap, one of the mechanical advance weight's and springs fell out. This is a 69 dauntless with a delco distributor. Upon further inspection, one of the posts on the "cam assembly" broke off. This is the post that the spring connects to. These post are attached by barley anything. Its about the thickness of the tip of a screwdriver to adjust a chainsaw carb. I can't believe they don't snap off all the time. The service manual calls it a "cam assembly" And it looks like i would need to pull the distributor to get it off. Anyways, I was wondering if anyone has ran into this issue before? If there are replacements available. Or if I should pull it off and fabricate another post. Thanks in advance!

 

That pin is somewhere inside you dist most likely. You need to remove that dist and take it apart (if you repair it) because you don't want any loose parts floating around in there. The replacement part is called the distributor lobe cam. It slides off the shaft. Sorry I don't have a spare. Ask in the classifieds.

 

Ok I will search for a used one. I have the piece that broke off. It still had the spring attached to it so was easy to find. Well I guess pulling the distributor is step number one to remove that piece. Thank you.

 

IMO you should just pick up a rebuilt distributor...they're not expensive and you'll save yourself a lot of grief.

 

one word: HEI

OK, maybe that's 3 words?

 

I hear ya on the HEI, but I sort of like the retro points set. I've never had an issue, my jeep starts quicker then fuel injection, and it will idle down to 500rpm. I never touch the points ever, except when I'm bored. Maybe once a year I'll clean them up. I may go with the HEI, but had a question and was wondering if you guys could enlighten me.

Searching for a stock replacement 225 distributor, all I could find was part number 30-1610. I can order it at my FLAPS for 45 bucks. Looking at maybe a dozen websites, it lists only being compatible with a 66 cj-5 v6. I thought all old buick and jeep oddfires were the same. Am I wrong?

 

Yes, the Buick 225 and Jeep 225 odd-fire engines are the same. The 231s have some changes, aside from the different bore.

RockAuto shows the same part for a '64 Buick Special 225 and a '66 Jeep CJ-5 225. They only offer a rebuild and return service though - that means that they don't have enough cores to keep the distributors in stock. They do show stock for a '68 CJ-5 with a Delco points distributor, GM PN 1110676 - that would work fine.

 

That's good to know. I was aware the old buick and jeep engines were the same. I guess my question's more about the years. Aren't they all the same from when jeep bought the 225 until 1971 when they changed to the straight 6? I don't think there is a difference but a bunch of websites list it for all old buicks and 1966 jeeps. In fact they say its incompatible with a 69 jeep dauntless. Looks the same tho, and I'm pretty sure it is the same.

 

I would look at any listing other than the Jeep factory parts book with a skeptical eye. However, the Jeep parts book is very picky - a slight difference from year to year will make a different part number, and they don't tell you why one year's part is different from the next.

The parts store's listings are usually taken from the Hollander guide that's published to tell junkyards which vehicle's parts are compatible. I'm sure the rebuilders also research their own applications ranges for the parts - it's to their advantage to make the smallest possible list of stocking numbers cover the largest possible number of cars.

For some reason, A1-Cardone and other rebuilders list the '66 CJ 225 distributor as different from the '68 CJ. They must have their reasons. Maybe the advance curve is different, or it has a special vacuum advance canister? It's a mystery. If I owned a '66, I would buy the part listed for the '68 or '69, and be confident that it would drop in and work fine.

 

timgr your wealth of knowledge is impressive. I'm going to order the distributor for 45 buck at my FLAPS and i'm confident it will work. At the very least I'm sure I can use parts from my old dizzy to get her running right again. thank you again for your input.

 

So is it the 69 had smog devises? I know my 66 doesn't. If this is the case or if the distributor was for a car or auto transmission then the advance curve both mechanical and vacuum would be a bit different. Just how much I don't know. At any rate a 225 v6 Delco odd fire dist is just that and will fit all 225 v6 odd fires but will have to be adjusted for your application. I have swapped a 66 Delco into a 68 engine with no problems.

 

The different Jeep part numbers simply reflect the different distributors that were installed.
Jeep installed 3 different Delco Remy distributors from 1966-1969 and the last 2 years were Prestolite IAT 4505.