Technical challenge! can you spot the problem.

back story. recently purchased 1940 chevy pickup, original 6 converted to 12v ,start and idled ok but "fell on its face" under higher rpm/load. pulling the choke out didn't make a difference. At higher rpm it acted like it was governed or rev limited. was recently tuned up and carb rebuilt.
I found a few little things but can you spot the main reason? timer starts now!

 

Brass Contact isn't sandwiched properly

 

Looks like the brass part is not properly seated/bolted down. HRP

 

Good eye! That was one of the little things, but {hint} that thin brass contact strip was held securely and was making good contact.

 

condenser screw too long?

 

Does it have a loose screw? HRP

 

It's in your hand and not on the motor?

 

Worn lobes?

 

Probably all that rust not providing a good ground for the points mounting plate.

 

What he said. /\/\/\
The spring's not installed.

 

good one!!

 

Yeah, no spring holding the point arm in place.
And enough rust on all...of the contact points, to cut the electron flow by at LEAST half.

Mike

 

there was a loose screw but that was one of the minor problems

true but not the problem at the time

probably slightly but not the issue.

there was rust which contributed to a "not ideal situation"

all good thoughts

 

I was looking at the condenser wire and thinking maybe it was shorting out on the case.

 

YES! it has barely enough tension to close the points

some have springs, some have a strong enough band to do both a connection and a spring.

this isn't the first time I have found this

lots of little things add up to problems

 

those are the details that keep another problem from happening.

 

Simple, no rotor
Duh

 

Beyond what has been mentioned, betting those points with no spring are the normal quality we can expect with points these days and that condenser is also suspect if it is anything like several of the new ones I have bought in recent years. I'm thankful that when I bought an old pickup recently, the farmer loaded me up with some old ignition parts still new in boxes. That is now my stash of points and condensers for this old stuff.

 

I think it’s your finger nail!

 

Not sure how those are set up.....but looks like there's no mechanical/centrifugal advance

 

All Chinese parts ?

 

Seriously, knowing Ted , all these issues will be corrected and that pickup will be running like a champ in no time.

 

Yeah, you've got no rotor arm in it.

 

I don't see any vacuum advance cannister. Or is this like some of the later 50's, early 60's Chevy sixes that had a "floating" distributor which moved the whole distributor housing when the vacuum advance was actuated? Though I'll have to officially agree with the missing spring being the problem. The brass contact strip is nowhere near thick enough to provide proper spring tension.

Excellent pictures, by the way.

 

Ted can repair old chevy truck distributors and paint too, he is a multi-talented man. HRP

 

Have all the problems been pointed out?
Inquiring minds want know.
Dan

 

Screws that hold plate to housing loose

 

hah

the vacuum advance unit mounts to the base and turns the whole distributor. that was working properly

45+ years of fooling with this stuff everyday

I think so

they were tight but rusty under neath

 

here are the points I have from my inventory . note no separate spring in the photo but the spring tension was very strong.