New distributor, failing to insert.

[BigElCat]

You rock Bobstad!

I'm a man that can't deal with distraction while I work, same as you.

I don't know this for a fact; but I'm willing to bet your nosy, noisy, lawn chair lounging neighbors don't hate you. They probably just want to get to know you a little better.

Congrats on getting the Festiva running.

[georgeb]

So, how did you set the timing?

[Movin]

^^^^

[Bert]

Not only that; the car runs too! YIPPIE

Now here is a proverbial and succinct (short and sweet) answer with regard to describing the outcome of a dizzie dilemna.

[bobstad]

Sorry; I keep trying to be outside "arena" ethos

I have to keep reminding myself... "If you can't say something nice...."

My paternal grandmother's favorite line, one of them at least. She has proven to be less than creative on many occasions; so I'm holding against favoring the impetus. While having to admit that the whole phenomena is one which seems by design, to want company so to speak. Without a spark, no conflagration; in other words.

If a person were on my end, feeling things as I do; then the process would have better "clarity" which is a bad word to describe an even worse situation here. "There goes the neighborhood" type feelings, lately.

Anyway, I'm enjoying one "arena" expert lately; tenor saxophonist Sue Orfield, playing with the Tiptons Sax Quartet. A fine rhythm and blues soloist, playing exceptionally well; the sort of inspired musicianship which hauls a person back for more, repeatedly.[http://www.sueorfield.com [http://www.tiptonssaxquartet.com

[bobstad]

Ta da!

ok, i must have missed that portion. so i take it the dizzy has made it properly onto the engine?

Not only that; the car runs too! YIPPIE

What an amazingly defeating procedure, however; thanks entirely to nosey, noisy, next door neighbors here. I job which should've taken an hour, takes days instead.

Intimidation, frequent abusive approaches to draw me into conversations, obvious designs against me here; making even going out the front door a challenge. Life as a hate-crime victim, is beyond the simple tediousness; which has to be the inspiration on the other end.

[FestYboy]

ok, i must have missed that portion. so i take it the dizzy has made it properly onto the engine?

[bobstad]

I did notice one anomaly; a tag instead of engraved part numbers.

Bobstad, since we're all taking wild guesses as to what the underlying issue is, is there any way you could post pictures of the new and old unit side by side? another pair of eyes may be able to decern a missed differance...

Well, if you've followed closely here; I've proven myself to be the ultimate culprit by trying to put in the new distributor with the off-set rotor shaft key, upside down. One thing which bugs me, is that I thought pulling out the old distributor I'd made sure to note the direction of the off-set. This, now that I think, got ignored; because of the continual conversation of neighbors a few feet from me, sitting in front of their apartment on lawn chairs where they perch at any time of the day past about ten or eleven in the morning.

This is a distracting energy to have to constantly endure; making the work always a long, drawn out procedure capable at any point of tedious mis-attention leading potentially to just such an error as caused me to try to replace the new unit backwards. I distinctly now recall changing the original set-up; feeling the pressuring of this pointed distraction, easy to believe targets me.

I did notice an anomaly on the new unit, that the part numbers are on a poorly attached tag which looks easy to lose; rather than engraved into the metal, as with the old distributor. Making a person imagine an independent factory, building parts for various brands; probably with less quality, though the unit seems passable. The contacts aren't copper or brass in the distributor cap, though not aluminum either; so probably a decent compromise.

I have a cheap digital camera which would probably be okay in strong sunlight; so perhaps when and if I need to replace the 0-ring, I'll take some photos to share.

I'm hardly an adept with this camera however; and as with many of my plethora of possessions I'd need to find something now gone missing to continue, the cord which allows the camera to hook-up to the computer. I've been scouting for that a week now; expecting at any point the next sheaf of paper I turn over, will reveal the thing.

[MasterTec]

I have to keep reminding myself... "If you can't say something nice...."

[bobstad]

I'm not a good improviser; unfortunately

Month ago I posted a query about the accidental discovery of what looked like a mostly-new B3-compatible dizzy on a 93 B6 16 valve at the U-Pull yard. I haven't tried it but $9.99 including cap and rotor certainly didn't deter me from going right back there the next day to grab it. And now that you're relaying the financial misadventures of buying new it does confirm that some things can double the value of a 20 year old car.
Perhaps you want to try to tighten a hose clamp over the o-ring of the dizzy overnight or maybe for a shorter spell in the hope the rubber contracts or compresses slightly.
In any case, good luck

I'll often come up with some creative seeming solutions, like clever hand fabrications of an original design; though generally I've always relied upon restoration to nearly new, anything which comes in my pathway. With the price of my labor always treated as a learning experience, which pays for the parts and tools; this has proven an adequate if hardly adventurous, and/or artistic philosophy. Unless, as sometimes proves reasonable; being a pauper from the process, counts as "adventure."

The reason has a lot to do with physical disability; for instance, not wanting to get stuck in a lurch if an experiment fails for some reason. Or, having to do something over again; which was all too difficult in the first place. I used to hate when I had a '66 VW Type III, the type characters always belittling me by quoting "four hour" engine pull and replacement time; as a standard if a person couldn't equal, they might as well give up and let someone capable have the resources.

I truly enjoy wrecking yards often times; though there is only one of those here. While, the same rules apply as with other resources; where "belt & suspenders" ends up my modus operandi, as mentioned above. Just the thought of packing around an ever increasing load of possessions, few of which have the intrinsic attraction worth the efforts; makes me blanch when I think of how this creates barriers to creativity.

I'd far more enjoy working over my own and friend's saxophones, clarinets or other musical instruments; and have already established my mechanical skills at that, too. Another nightmare process however; trying to penetrate the reactionary craft guild mentality of the trade; which far more discourages individual initiative and creativity, than auto or bike mechanics, carpentry, etc.

[FestYboy]

Bobstad, since we're all taking wild guesses as to what the underlying issue is, is there any way you could post pictures of the new and old unit side by side? another pair of eyes may be able to decern a missed differance...

[bobstad]

Stupid, stupid, stupid, neighbors!

In the hallowed tradition of blaming someone else for one's mistakes, I'm singling out the next door but for the recently vacated place between us, neighbors; for my putting the distributor in with the slotted side upside down.

The way I had the thing did look accurate, even after many, many inspections! Probably my glasses refracting, when they could've fracted a little less? The problem only took me two days of futile struggle, to decide to experiment; likely a fifteen minute obstacle, without these paragons of nonsense beside me as I worked. Sitting in lawn chairs running their patter to distract me, the whole time I worked.*

In this process I also took off the o-ring, to try sanding that down a little; so probably I'll have to get another soon, if there is a leakage problem.

Well, on the other hand I saved myself a long hot/sweaty trip to Portland yesterday; to listen to some music.[http://www.tiptonssaxquartet.com

Nice since a drive I'd of enjoyed at night, mid-winter more-as was the case last December 18th with them at the same venue. I was using water by then with electrical symptoms too, so lucky the car didn't end up broken down there with a busted water pump and bad alternator; is one more bitter seeming scenario.

They are performing this evening in Olympia around eight so I can still get down for that, I'm in the process of deciding against; and as well I have a ticket for tomorrow in Seattle. Probably more than enough, saving some expensive journeys for the feasible price of a new o-ring...if I can find one?

*With greater ambition; I'd go and get a $5/six-pack of tall cans from the Grocery Outlet, to share. Seven-Eleven nearby with Red Box, seems more the pending choice.

[Bert]

I've seen them sold on this site for $25.

Month ago I posted a query about the accidental discovery of what looked like a mostly-new B3-compatible dizzy on a 93 B6 16 valve at the U-Pull yard. I haven't tried it but $9.99 including cap and rotor certainly didn't deter me from going right back there the next day to grab it. And now that you're relaying the financial misadventures of buying new it does confirm that some things can double the value of a 20 year old car.
Perhaps you want to try to tighten a hose clamp over the o-ring of the dizzy overnight or maybe for a shorter spell in the hope the rubber contracts or compresses slightly.
In any case, good luck

[bravekozak]

So the blade that fits into the camshaft slot, is the same size (width and length) as stock?

[bobstad]

99 cent cheapie accuracy is 100% spot-on!

Too bad you didn't have a set of vernier calipers. I would measure the original vs. the replacement for width of slot blades and overall diameters. Sounds to me like there is something out of tolerance. The calipers are one of my most used tools.

Been there, done that; unless somehow my dollar store plastic calipers are to blame, which seems unfeasible? I use these often enough I even considered getting a second pair; now with a second smaller pair for a dollar for both, at the local Goodwill thrift.

Seriously, the very first thing I checked out of the box; before I was concerned the o-ring is at fault.