57 Distributor Breaker plate


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By Nat Santamaria - 15 Years Ago
Does anyone know how many screws and where the screws are to remove the breaker plate from the distributor. I really do not want to remove the distributor from the car if possible. Looking into the holes of the breaker plate I see some rust. I have sprayed with WD 40 but I would like to get in there if I could to have a look. If someone could tell me where to locate the screws and the number of screws that would be great.



Thank you
By Ted - 15 Years Ago
If your distributor has the ball bearing breaker plate, there will be two slotted head screws holding it in place located 180° apart from each other on the outside of the distributor housing.  To get to both of these, the distributor will likely need to be removed from the engine.  Try not to be intimidated by removing the distributor as it’s definitely easier to work on out of the vehicle.
By Nat Santamaria - 15 Years Ago
Are these the 2 screws on the side of the distributor. Looking inside the distributor they dont look like they do anything. One of them is the screw that secures the ground wire and the other screw has a small nut. Both of the screws are above the breaker plate in side the distributor.. Are these the correct ones?



thanks
By texasmark1 - 15 Years Ago
went thru this myself just a couple of months ago... finally broke down and pulled the dist.  marked everthing with positions and took some photos before removing... came out easy; knocked the plate loose using a small pick thru the little hole in the bottom of the dist housing after removing the pertronix sender and other connections topside...

mine had frozen weights and springs that prevented any advance from happening... generously soaked that end in WD-40, Gunk and carb cleaner and finally got them freed up.  now have advance...

it can be done! take your time and don't come near it with your GBF screwdriver!!

By marvh - 15 Years Ago
Here's the link to the teardown discussion.

http://www.y-blocksforever.com/forums/Topic36665-3-1.aspx
marv
By Ted - 15 Years Ago
Nat Santamaria (3/15/2010)
Are these the 2 screws on the side of the distributor. Looking inside the distributor they dont look like they do anything. One of them is the screw that secures the ground wire and the other screw has a small nut. Both of the screws are above the breaker plate in side the distributor.. Are these the correct ones?

thanks
Yes.  The two clips on the inside of the distributor that are held place by these two screws are what actually keeps the ball bearing breaker plate snug within the distributor housing.  This only applies to the ’57 and ’58 distributors with the ball bearing advance plate.  The newer style distibutors have the screws holding the breaker plate with the pivot style advance on the inside of the distributor.