Any Distibutor Guys out there?! Need some help!

350/400 combo in my 56 F100. Driving it around today and all of a sudden I hear this loud ticking noise that get's fasted when I accelerate. So pulled over and it's coming from the dizzy area. Anyone have an idea what it is? The truck is running fine just that noise all of a sudden. The tranny is brand new with about 500 miles on it or so. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

did the distributor cap hit the firewall?

 

Is it a ticking sound, or more of a snapping sound? Sounds like the cap might be cracked, or one of the wires might be shorting. Watch it run in the dark, and look for lil' lightnin' bolts

 

Don't know why it would have... There is a nice spacing inbtween the two. Why do you ask?

 

not much to go on here, just grasping at straws....

 

Got ya. Well anyone else have this happen?

 

check and make sure the torque converter bolts are tight since the sound is coming from rear of motor. cracked flexplate can make ticking noise also.

 

Loose converter or flex plate bolt?

 

That's what I was thinking. But it sounds like it is coming from the actual dizzy. Anything else it could be. No sparks jumping just checked it out.

 

My guess is loose bolts on the converter or flexplate, a dented inspection cover on the trans contacting the ring gear, or a cracked flexplate...possibly valvetrain related?...

 

Take the distributor cap off, maybe the rotor is loose and contacting the cap...

 

What kind of dist is it? If it is hei or some electronic you may have an open in a plug wire and it is arcing in the cap.

 

This just happended to me on my dodge wagon . 383 b motor , the dipstick somehow was hitting the crank .

 

Just a stock dizzy. Points and all. Rotor is tight. It's like a hissing ticking. Not a vacuum leak i know for sure.

 

Not the dipstick.

 

At the same time look for something loose inside the distributor. screws or one of the weights on the advance.
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Well I did find red dust inside the dizzy cap. Does this mean something failed on it. Never seen it before.

 

Anyone else? Before I hit the hay?

 

Advance weight are dry take the weights off and clean them,then lube them where the make contact with the center stop and the pivots.

 

Can't add more about the ticking, but the red dust might be a dry rubbing block wearing against the dist. cam. Check for lube there. If it wore down enough, it might've changed your points setting. Good luck. - Rick

 

Red dust could be sign of bearing wear inside the dizzy, and would explain the sounds you are hearing. Pull the dizzy out and check it for wear. Thats my .02 worth. But "I just a man not a miracle worker"

 

Been doing some research and they say the screeching(ticking, winding, whistling whateverit is I hear coming from the Dizzy) with the brownish red dust inside the cap is a sign of it starting to go out. Is this true?

 

Anyone have the death screech happen to this before?

 

a tick may be an exhaust leak

 

Yeah it's not an exhaust leak more of a spinning sound. Like I said sound like it spins faster when I accelerate.

 

the red dust i believe comes from spark bleading trough the rotor cap and grounding on the weights/dist shaft. If it goes on long enough it will cause the dist shaft to get stuck inside the part that rotates to advance the timing. Make sure you can turn the rotor cap a bit and that it springs back, then replace the rotor cap. This may or may not have anything to do with the noise though. I have heard a ticking noise coming from the dist area of the engine in my 38 coupe. It has an HEI also. Ive been driving it for 9 years and it either stopped or I just ignore it now. I'm gonna follow this post just to see if you find a sollution that I can try.

 

Yeah the rotor and everything seems fine. I'm thinking it's the top bearing that spun out. But boy do I hate installing Dizzys so that's why i'm asking before I jump in it.

 

Have a look at the advance weights. Maybe a spring came off one.?? Lippy

 

Picture of the Advance weights anyone? Should i be able to lift the shaft by the rotor? Turn the rotor both way? When i turn it counter clockwise it starts to lift up also. Does that sound right?

 

K, the red dust is a sign that the rotor is shorting to ground.. Usually right under the center.. pull the rotor ( 2 screws and look at the back side, if you see any red dust under it...It's bad !
To be safe change the rotor ( buy a good , heavy rotor ) the cheap ones are very light weight... Heavy = long life.
Dave