Distributor cap and rotor question

[rundmc]

Hey all,

Replaced my cap and rotor. Both replacements are SpecialT parts. Both installed just fine, however the rotor had more of a matte finish and said "Made in Italy" on it rather than being a Bosch part. Also, I did forget to put a dab of gear oil under the rotor before installation.

So - two questions -

Should I be concerned about a Made in Italy rotor's longevity and reliability?

Should I remove from the post and oil it? When I installed it, I was careful not to turn it while pressing down, but at one point it moved counterclockwise about an inch under tension for a split second before snapping back to its found position.

[Spittybug]

You shouldn't have any problems with that cap and rotor from John; if you do, he has a good reputation for making things right.

No need to oil it, the rotor doesn't spin on the shaft. It sounds like you pressed it down and seated it properly (a keyed slot). The movement you mentioned is normal; you saw the centrifugal advance in action and then the springs snapped it back. Just make sure all is clean, the cap seated properly and snapped on. Don't assume you have the plugs back in the correct holes, double check. It's amazing how many people automatically put them back 1,2,3,4,5,6.

[rundmc]

Thanks Spitty',

Yes, I put in entire new wires and we diagramed and labeled the wires very carefully between both the cap points and the new sparkplugs. We kept the old wires attached to the old cap with labels for each plug so we could double check our work later. I'm thinking of keeping the old cap with the wires in it with the tags as a master diagram for the future.

Michael

[David T]

A couple of drops of a light oil would be fine. The shaft that holds the rotor DOES rotate on the distributor drive shaft, that's how you get mechanical advance. I have seen where they freeze up and won't turn because of a lack of lubrication. The grease you put there will probably be enough lubrication.
David Teitelbaum