1989 3.0 distributor issues

[Tommyd13]

I have replaced the rotor and cap and ran the dog crap out of the boat on Saturday. Yesterday when we took it out we were 5 miles into our boat ride when the boat just died. I pull the engine cover and the cap is loose and the metal peices on the rotor are broken completely off. They are brand new and they said it was for the 1989 3.0 motor. I’m just at a loss and need some help.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Evidently you did something wrong installing the cap and rotor

 

[Tommyd13]

Cap was placed all the way down and the screws tightened down on the cap.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Have heard of rotors just coming apart but if the locating notch was correctly located the cap can become loose and take out the rotor

 

[Tommyd13]

Is it normal for the distributor to have movement up and down? Not huge movement but 1/4” up and down.

 

[alldodge]

Is it normal for the distributor to have movement up and down? Not huge movement but 1/4” up and down.

Not an issue
Check that the screw threads are not stripped which hold the cap

 

[Tommyd13]

If they are stripped do I have to replace the whole distributor?

 

[alldodge]

If they are stripped do I have to replace the whole distributor?

Maybe not, mine was stripped on one side, so I just used the next size larger screw and retapped the hole

 

[Tommyd13]

are you thinking that the cap came loose and that’s the reason it messed up?

 

[alldodge]

Sort of, if one screw was not tight, it would **** to one side. Not saying it did, just posting comments of "what if's"

 

[Tommyd13]

1989 3.0 distributor cap rotor help

Put a brand new cap and rotor in distributor and the rotor broke boat would still run. This is the third one to do this. I bought the Sierra delco in line single point cap 18-5268. There has to be something wrong with the part. It should not be this easy to break. Is there a better one I can get?

 

[Tommyd13]

Replaced the screws made sure it was tight and cranked it up let it warm up. Took the cap back off and the brass peice that sits on the front of the rotor was bent 90 degrees? Is there a better part that I can use because this is my third one.

 

[andrewterri]

How is the rotor breaking? Is it cracking, splitting, or grenading itself

 

[Tommyd13]

The brass peice that the silver top arcs on was turn 90 degrees from where it was supposed to be.

 

[Tommyd13]

And there also are a bunch of little metal shavings inside the cap

 

[alldodge]

You either have the wrong distributor installed or your getting the wrong cap and rotor. Having a serial number would be best, but the 1989 3.0 should have
cap 393-9459Q1
rotor 8M6001251

 

[Tommyd13]

That’s the ones I am putting on. Can you tell me which distributor I need. The serial is oc502559

 

[alldodge]

That’s the ones I am putting on. Can you tell me which distributor I need. The serial is oc502559

Thanks the s/n confirms you need the cap/rotor I listed above if (big IF) the distributor has not be changed

 

[Tommyd13]

Ok so you know where I could find a replacement distributor. Sorry for the hundred questions but I have been chasing my tail on this and can’t find reliable info until now.

 

[Bt Doctur]