The Maestro 356Talk Classic Posts

Editor's Note:

Harry Pellow, aka The Maestro, contributed a wealth of information to the 356 Registry Talk List. This is one in a series of his contributions, all informative and all written in his inimitable style, that we're publishing here in the 356 Registry site.

INSTALLING THE .050 DISTRIBUTOR

OK, you need to do a simple Test. With the car in NEUTRAL and the wheels blocked, either jack up the car or take off the Passenger's side rear wheel. This'll give you access to the Starter. (It's that big cylindrical thing with the thick wires attached to its end. If you remove the wheel, it's pretty obvious. (You don't have to remove the wheel, you CAN just crawl under the car, but for First Timers, wheel removal is probably better. Experts can find the Starter, the Power Wire and the Solenoid connection with a screwdriver in the dark without getting their pants dirty. Don't ask me how I know.)

First inspect the little wire that attaches to the "spade" terminal. Make sure it's attached.If it ISN'T attached, that is your problem! Assuming the wire IS attached, then with a screwdrive or jumper wire AND WITH THE TRANS IN NEUTRAL, go from the Big Thick Wire that's BOLTED to the starter, to the Solenoid Terminal where the little wire is.

If the engine cranks over, your starter is NOT bad- the problem lies Upstream, likely in the ignition switch. But first you must do this test.

(Note: before doing ANY of the above, make certain the trans is in NEUTRAL and put a wrench on the Pulley Nut (I use a Metric Adjustable Wrench), and see if the engine WILL turn over. If it does NOT turn over with a wrench on the pulley- STOP! You have hydraulic lock in a cylinder! (Or worse.) Pull the plugs out and crank the engine over with a wrench on the pulley to clear the gasoline (or water) from the cylinders. Then wait an hour or so for the gas to evaporate before putting the plugs in and firing it up.