Question about my distributor


dmch82bl8

15+ Year Member

Joined
Mar 11, 2009
Messages
15
Points
3,101
City
Phoenix, AZ
Vehicle Year
1994
Transmission
Manual
I have a 1994 4x4 Ranger w/ 3.0L.
I am in the process of swapping engines with another 3.0L from the same year. I was having problems with my original engine. It was missing intermittently when I would give it more throttle. I thought it might be a problem with one of the heads, so instead of buying rebuilt heads, gaskets, and head bolts for over $400, I bought a whole used engine w/ a 1 year warranty for $400+.
Well, today when I was swapping parts, I removed the distributor caps from both engines and noticed that on my original, the rotor mechanism just didn't feel right. I can grab the rotor and turn it right and left about 1/4 of an inch, and I can lift it about as much. I can also move it from side to side a little bit. Now on the other motor that I just bought, the rotor mechanism is tight all around, and doesn't move, which is how I believe it's suppose to be.
Does anyone have any info on this? Could this have been my problem all along? Any ideas? Has anyone else encountered this type of thing?
Anyway,
I am going to slowly, (in my spare time), completely rebuild my original motor, and put it back in the truck when it's finished, but It seems like now I might need a new Distributor.

I forgot to add, I removed all the spark plugs one at a time to check condition, and noticed that plugs from cylinders 1-5 were dry and normal light tannish orange color, but # 6 cylinder looked as if it hadn't been firing in awhile and was wet with gas and a darker color.

Any thoughts?
 
Last edited:
distributer question

if your original distributer had too much clearance, the side to side movement, that would throw off your timing as well as wear out the cap once the rotor started to rub against the posts for each plug wire.
as far as the #6 plug being wet, i had a similar problem with mine when the fuel pressure regulator went bad, but worse. :annoyed: mine started dumping gas into the intake manifold through the vacuum line connecting the regulator to the manifold and since the #6 was the closer intake port it all went into it and all but hydrolocked the motor. its possible yours has developed a small leak and is doing the same

hope that helps
 

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