Needing some expert guidance right now. I'm alone and have about 4 hours to figure out this distributor/vacuum advance issue(s).
I'm finally back at the garage of my 67 Plymouth Fury VIP after a month away.. GG needs mechanical work.. plenty of top end diagnostics to be done. I want to drive her for at least part of this lovely summer! So I've decided to start at the ignition system. I disconnected the battery. Removed distributor cap and detached vacuum hose from carburetor. Then sucked on hose to check vacuum advance.. and nothing moved. Like I was trying to suck air from a stone. Hose is clear and solid. As I watched for the breaker plate to turn a bit, nothing. It is stuck. Solid. I cannot even jiggle it a little by hand.
This might explain why she has no power under load.. she can't even get up to 30mph. No advance? She doesn't jump forward when put into gear/drive like she should. And in gear she can't get out of her own way.. and I hear this poofy, popping from the carburetor when I get on the throttle a little like it's sucking too much air or not getting enough fuel. She starts up easily and seems pretty good at idle.
I also found that the insulation is cracked and exposing the copper wire right where it connects at the coil(lead points contact wire).
Can someone please tell me why the breaker plate won't move, and how to remedy this?
Btw, the vacuum hose is pliable, and not clogged or broken in any way.
I don't know if the timing is off. I don't know if the points are set/gapped correctly.. I don't have a feeler gauge to check. Nothing looks corroded or rusted at all. The points and condenser were changed when I got the car two years ago.. but has driven poorly ever since. Maybe the coil is bad too?
So many things to test, but I started with this.. and would like to figure it out tonight.. at least ONE thing tonight.
Keep in mind I am just learning about this stuff.. all of your help is so greatly appreciated! Again, my main thing is the stuck breaker plate. I'm almost considering removing the whole distributor and taking it home to learn about it, clean it, lube the proper parts and set it up correctly with good points, cap etc........ thanks in advance fellow C-friends.
Alex & GG
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