M151 Series Distributor Update.

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Fabius
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M151 Series Distributor Update.

Unread post by Fabius » June 23rd, 2017, 12:59 pm

Several years ago my 1974 M151A2 started running rough. Long story short, replaced the distributor and that corrected the problem. Now I'm having the same problem, starts up right away even in a Michigan winter but after a few minutes it runs like it's running on 3 cylinders. I recall reading on the forum that a common problem with the distributors was that a copper rod would crack. I have done no work on it yet and will of course check all the likely problems but I wanted to check to see if there was anything new in the world of M151 series distributors, such as someone using the original housing and putting in new guts or otherwise rebuild them. If not then my only option is to buy one?

Fil Bonica
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Re: M151 Series Distributor Update.

Unread post by Fil Bonica » June 23rd, 2017, 2:50 pm

There is no copper rod that I can imadine in the distrinutor.
Is there a crack in the disr cap or arc tracks that you can see?

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rickf
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Re: M151 Series Distributor Update.

Unread post by rickf » June 23rd, 2017, 8:27 pm

The only copper I know of are the contact posts in the distributor cap, and they are replaced with a new cap. And if one is cracked it is because it was hit by the rotor. Possible bad rotor in that case.
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

Fabius
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Re: M151 Series Distributor Update.

Unread post by Fabius » June 23rd, 2017, 11:32 pm

Hmm, I guess my memory is faulty about the copper rod. With the original problem several years ago the usual suspects where replaced; coil, rotor, cap, wires and plugs. Only when the whole distributor was replaced did the problem go away. Only thing different today is that an inline gas filter was added. So that will be changed. Thanks for the input.

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rickf
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Re: M151 Series Distributor Update.

Unread post by rickf » June 24th, 2017, 8:27 am

You might want to check the timing advance mechanism in the distributor to make sure it is clean and in working order. Sometimes the sprngs break and sometimes they whole thing just freezes up and does not advance, or worse, gets stuck in the advanced position.
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

Haas
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Re: M151 Series Distributor Update.

Unread post by Haas » June 24th, 2017, 12:46 pm

You may want to check your valve adjustment as well if you have not done so recently.
1942 Willys MB "slat grille"
1943 Ford GPW
1953 M38A1
1952 M38A1
1951? M38
1st run M151
1953 M37
Ford G8T
2 Ford GTBs

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