snap ring for 1970 distributor

Posted By: VanishPt

snap ring for 1970 distributor - 11/02/11 12:14 AM

Any suggestions on where i can find the snap ring ( that is all it is called in the shop manual) that fits under the contact plate and at the top of the shaft assembly . Looked at McMaster Carr and did not see one that looks like it.

Thanks

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: snap ring for 1970 distributor - 11/02/11 02:07 AM

They're the same on all dizzy's afaik. Not sure where to get a new one. I could send you one but it'd be later this week + several days to get there and you could form one out of some tensile wire if need be, just a ~3/4 circle and the 2 vertical legs

Posted By: RedRam

Re: snap ring for 1970 distributor - 11/02/11 02:44 AM

I have made one from a couple of coils from a spring. A little trial and error, worked just fine.

Posted By: VanishPt

Re: snap ring for 1970 distributor - 11/02/11 02:50 AM

i wonder if a 1/4" exterior snap ring ( one with the 2 tiny holes to help remove it ) or an E clip would work?

i still have the one that was on it , but i mangled it up while removing it. I live in the boonies and always like to have a spare.

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: snap ring for 1970 distributor - 11/02/11 03:10 AM

Quote:

i wonder if a 1/4" exterior snap ring ( one with the 2 tiny holes to help remove it ) or an E clip would work?

i still have the one that was on it , but i mangled it up while removing it. I live in the boonies and always like to have a spare.

Yes an E clip very well may work if there's room to get the pliers' nubs in the 2 holes & if so I'm going to convert even tho I have the trick to getting them out fairly easy down pat by expanding it it's never easy . Actually those OE clips are very elastic and you can bend yours back to where it was & you'll be good. I thought maybe you had lost it. It'd take a ton of bending to fatigue break one of them as they're made of very elastic steel for a reason

Posted By: VanishPt

Re: snap ring for 1970 distributor - 11/02/11 12:07 PM

thanks for the offer and the help.

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: snap ring for 1970 distributor - 11/02/11 01:50 PM

I've got 5 or 6 spare dist. sitting in the bottom of the tool chest. PM me an address and I'll mail you the little wire snap ring.

Posted By: VanishPt

Re: snap ring for 1970 distributor - 11/03/11 02:21 AM

thanks for everyones help.

FYI, the 1/4 External snap ring seemed to fit well ---( without the top of the shaft assembly on) but i could not get the snap ring pliers down in there. In retrospect, i should have tried getting it down in there with 2 ice picks.

I ended up bending the old one back into shape .

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: snap ring for 1970 distributor - 11/03/11 02:47 AM

Quote:

but i could not get the snap ring pliers down in there. In retrospect, i should have tried getting it down in there with 2 ice picks.

(1) I was afraid of that. (2)I have some straight ice pick like tools that will work if it can be done & most likely will

. Thanks for the idea