VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 How to Set Timing?

What is the proper way to adjust the distributor on a 1931 Chevy 6? Obviously, the cable must be adjusted to allow distributor travel, but is the double nut adjusted as a cable stop? Is the distributor ever locked in position?
Thanks.

Your 1931 Chevrolet Repair Manual will give you instructions on how to adjust the timing. If you don't have one you can get a reprint from the Filling Station. www.fillingstation.com There is a lot of interesting information in the Repair Manual.

The distributor is never locked in a permanent position. It is allowed to move to retard or advance the timing when the spark knob on the instrument panel is pulled out or pushed in.

When setting the timing, the spark knob should be pushed in all the way.

Don't know what you mean by "double nut". There is a set screw on the manual advance arm for the spark cable wire. When the timing is set then the set screw is tightened down on the spark cable wire and that will hold the distributor in position until the spark knob on the instrument panel is pulled out to retard the distributor.

I understand about the screw that locks the cable in place. My confusion is over the nuts that are below the grease pot on the side of the distributor. Do they need to be adjusted? I really don't understand their purpose.
The Chevrolet repair manual is good in many areas but it says little about how to adjust timing.
Thanks for your help.

I bet the lock nut on whitch you are talking holds the oil pump in place.

There are no nuts on the side of the distributor below the grease cup. The only nut there is the nut for the fillester head bolt that holds the manual advance arm in place on the distributor body.

Below the distributor on the side of the engine is a big lock nut and screw that holds the internal oil pump in place and that is shown in the repair manual. That screw and nut has nothing to do with the distributor.

I am sorry I am having so much difficulty explaining the nuts but I really do need to understand their function. Look at this picture on the web and note immediately underneath the distributor's condenser and grease pot there are the nuts. What is their function and when do I need to adjust them?


Timing Info HERE - PHOTO

The picture which you posted a link to is not a photograph of your engine and it doesn't have "nuts" just below the grease cup and condenser. What it does have (painted black) is the normal 1/4-20 fillister head screw with a lock washer and hex nut. (In the photo, it's actually installed backwards, but no matter). That screw is used to tighten the clamp which holds the distributor in place once the timing is set.

In a nutshell, to set the timing you push the "Spark" knob all the way in, connect the timing light, loosen the above fillister head screw a bit and start the engine. Rotate the distributor slightly until the timing is correct, then tighten the screw to clamp the distributor in place. Double check that the timing remains correct and you're done.


The only other nut I see below the distributor is as others have described...It's the one painted engine color and is a lock nut for the slotted set screw that holds the oil pump in place. You don't want to touch that one.

Hope that helps.

What is shown in the photo is exactly what I described previously.

John: Have someone pull out the spark , while you watch how it works, then you will understand more, that turns the distributer & retards (slows) the firing of the points to start easier,
Good Luck
Dulty