'66 427 Ignition Shielding

[chipster]

I just purchased ignition shielding from Corvette Central for my '66 427/390. I have reviewed my trusty "assembly manual" but I am still confused as to how to install. It shows it attaching on one side via an "existing screw"? Where is the "existing screw"? The other side appears to attach via one of the two bolts that attaches the coil bracket to the intake manifold. Is that correct? If so, which one of the two bolts do you use?

 

[JohnZ]

"Existing screw" is the intake manifold bolt - I believe you use the rearmost one on each side; position the shield and side brackets and it will be obvious which bolt position to use.

 

[chipster]

Thanks. I just came in from the garage - and it worked. Now...the only problem is the vacuum advance on the distributor hits the shield. I can't quite turn the distributor enough to get the timing back right. Any suggestions?

 

[JohnZ]

This is caused by one of two things - the distributor is installed one tooth off, which requires the housing to be turned too far to set the base timing without the advance can hitting the bracket, or the drive gear on the bottom of the distributor shaft is installed wrong - there's a "dimple" on the lower part of the drive gear, and the gear must be installed on the shaft with the dimple pointed in the same direction as the tip of the rotor.

I responded to your previous post over on the NCRS Board today - saw it here last night and responded to it before I saw it over there this afternoon.

 

[chipster]

Thanks John! I had the gear on wrong. I rebuilt the distributor a couple of weeks ago and didn't notice the "dimple" when I put the gear on the distributor shaft. I just got it all back together and the shielding looks great. Thanks again for your help.

 

[JohnZ]

Very common problem - this dimple/rotor tip alignment isn't mentioned anywhere in any Chevy Shop Manual or Overhaul Manual, but it's buried in the Delco Manual; I see the problem frequently. It's just one of those things you "learn" as you go along (I've been doing it for 40 years).