I have posted before about my 57 bird, with the 312, and various issues I have run across. I managed to get it running pretty well and took to my mechanic a couple of weeks ago.



Asked him to go through it and I told him (and you) about the points closing and car quitting or not starting. Pull the cap, adjust points (screws were tight) and back on the road. Anyway, mechanic says I have about a 10 degree movement with the dist shaft and should only be 2 degrees. They get the car all tuned up, set timing etc. Head down road, it acts up and when they get it back the timing is off and points closed.



He thinks it is the distributor gear or the timing chain. The long block was put in it and only has 3500 miles on it. What do you guys think it is? Timing chain or dist. gear? Before I spend the money tearing the front up to get to the timing chain, anyone run across this before? If it is the gear, what are the chances that the other end, on the cam is ruined? Distributor is original with 53K miles on it.



Also I just put on a new vacuum advance, points, condenser, and belts.



As always, I appreciate you time and comments...



~Rod




1957 Thunderbird

312