Weird distributor spring or normal?

[dmopar74]

The heavy spring on my 73 slants distributor has space between it and the pin. Is this normal?

 

[mopar head]

Looks like a factory spring but seems stretched out a little bit. IMO it shouldn`t have that space between it and the pin.

 

[67Dart273]

Yes it should (EDIT have a gap) lots of them did, I think mostly, in the smog years. The thing advanced part of the way with the light spring, and the heavy one just slipped on the pin. At some RPM the heavy one came on the pin and did a slower advance from there up in the RPM.

What is your interpretation of these advance springs?

Hey guys: I got a late model electronic SL6 distributor in with a parts lot that a friend generously donated. The story goes that it's been "curved" by someone who does Mopar distributors, but of whom I can't find any reference around here. It's a parts-store reman with a new 8.5R vacuum...

www.forabodiesonly.com

 

[TrailBeast]

Yea that’s normal.
We call that the garage door spring.

 

[440 Mike]

Perfectly normal.

 

[mopar head]

Showes what I know about slants... nothing

 

[Dave999]

gives you two slopes to the ignition advance curve see image blow shows distributor not crank degrees but that doesn't matter effect is the same.
this shows electronic curve and points curve
i.e how to build a curve that achieves much the same outcome at the wheels with the two types of distributor on an australian hemi 265


aggressive in the first section then the second spring slows the application of advance once the space in the loop is taken up

someone has been in and stretched that spring to make its effect later in the curve in your distributor.

your engine may like it, it may not, only testing will show.

the other curve on the blue paper is the vacuum advance set up that works well with this curve on a race spec hemi 265 with webers and extractors
i don't have factory stuff for 225 or 318 sorry

This is the spec they gave to Bosch Australia pty for a specific range of distributors to be built..bosch advance with mopar top end distributors used often in Oz for later 6 cylinders of both types. the poor guys with v8 often got lucas with mopar above the advance plate....!

yours is pure mopar advance with mopar top end but the principals are all the same

obviously i didn't get permission from chrysler australia engineering to publish this...so don't tell em...

 

[RustyRatRod]

Normal. That slot gives the advance a "jump start" down low for immediate advance and then once the slack is gone, the big spring slows the advance.

 

[AJ/FormS]

That long-loop spring works great in my 11.1Scr alloy headed 367.
Idles at 12>14* ,
jumping to 28* off-idle , then
begins advancing again at 2800, going to 34*@3400.
This allows the engine to run on 87E10 full-time, @207*F, without detonation.
To that,
>I added 22* of VA (sparkport); to run 50* of cruise timing@2800; it wanted more like 56; so I got me a dash-mounted, dial-back, timing module, with a range of 15 degrees, to supply the difference.
>I have run up to 200psi cylinder pressure with that two-stage curve, still without detonation.
>I have geared this beast down to 75=2100, with cruise timing of up to 56 degrees, and more. She got fabulous fuel-economy, with a 223/230/110 cam, and a prepped carb..

IMO, that long-loop spring is like gold.
Hang on a sec;
I find it in a lotta, lotta distributors of the smog era, so if you're gonna sell it, it ain't rare. I just mean that she's a great asset to my combo.

 

[67Dart273]

Showes what I know about slants... nothing

Ma did this with V8s in the same era, as well

 

[mopar head]

Ma did this with V8s in the same era, as well

That`s the only reason I spoke up, my 72 440 engine has those large springs and I don`t remember them being loose on the pin like that, but my memory ain`t what it used to be

 

[67Dart273]

That`s the only reason I spoke up, my 72 440 engine has those large springs and I don`t remember them being loose on the pin like that, but my memory ain`t what it used to be

We both may be right. There were variations in dist, my 70, 440-6 RR had a Prestolite dual point, and was not bought in CA. Some had that stupid retard solenoid. Autos and sticks often had different curves. So some may have had the "slip eye" and some may not.