DjGreggieP
DjGreggieP Dork
8/29/23 1:09 p.m.

Hey all,

I have an issue with the small block swapped e36. Well, a few issues honestly but most are easily fixed with *time x money*.

SO, the previous owner and the builder who did the work are/were drag racers, so they decided on welding the distributor to 20* timing, which is fiiiine but not great. I have purchased a timing weight kit for the distributor. Recently (re: last night) the car lost spark, power at the coil, nothing from the cap so the game plan is new cap and rotor and since I will be in there, I want to fix the timing and maybe it'll be a bit better on fuel and be better behaved while driving.

The issue, I can not find the proper name and therefore the proper size for the screws to hold the weights in place (they don't come with the kit either). The distributor is MSD (part number not known) for after HEI but prior to the sideways cap distributor.  The small block 350 which as best as I can tell is part number '19210009' from GM Performance ( linky ) which is the closest to what I was told was put in (give or take, swap was done around 2011, engine is marked as a 2010 build) 

If anyone knows the thread and length of the screws to hold in the weights I would really appreciate it. I can find sizes for holding in the rotor, and holding the cap in place and the bolt size for bolting the distributor into place but not the part number for those screws. I can't even find a picture of said distributor with the rotor removed to be able to point and say 'those screws'

I thank you for your time and give a thousand internet points for assistance in a direction to go. I am really hoping I can avoid having to buy a distributor (pending weld removal) because of a pair of missing screws. 

06HHR (Forum Supporter)
06HHR (Forum Supporter) SuperDork
8/29/23 2:21 p.m.

Other than going to a junkyard and buying a used distributor for parts i got nuthin..  My google-fu can't find the thread pitch or size or even a kit for the weight screws. 

rattfink81
rattfink81 Reader
8/29/23 4:32 p.m.

pull it and take it to your local hardware store or use your best guess and pick up a assorted size/thread pitch and go from there.

All the big name places around me carry pretty much anything I've need.

APEowner
APEowner GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
8/29/23 11:04 p.m.

There are no screws holding the weights in.  They're held in by spacers under the springs.  If yours is locked then someone may have removes the pins that the weights pivot on.  Those are either pressed in or welded in. 

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