No power after distributor swap

[Erik the Awful]

"Thank you for the inquiry. We do appreciate our customers sending us ideas for new products and getting feedback on current products. In the past, we have looked into the possibility of making these caps in clear. The high grade of raw material needed to make a superior strength compound does not allow it to be clear. We could use a cheap plastic type material that does not have the dielectric properties required for this cap, but putting out an inferior product is not our MO. Also because of the complexity of the cap and the construction of the tooling, air bubbles form in the material during the injection molding process. This would render the cap defective after a short time.

Thank you again for the inquiry and we do appreciate your support of United Motor Products."

 

[Pinger]

"Thank you for the inquiry. We do appreciate our customers sending us ideas for new products and getting feedback on current products. In the past, we have looked into the possibility of making these caps in clear. The high grade of raw material needed to make a superior strength compound does not allow it to be clear. We could use a cheap plastic type material that does not have the dielectric properties required for this cap, but putting out an inferior product is not our MO. Also because of the complexity of the cap and the construction of the tooling, air bubbles form in the material during the injection molding process. This would render the cap defective after a short time.

Thank you again for the inquiry and we do appreciate your support of United Motor Products."

Is it worth another try suggesting it as a tool only - not long term use?

 

[Erik the Awful]

I replied with this:

Thanks for the response. I completely understand your commitment to producing a quality product. I relayed your reply to the forum and got another question from one of the forum members:

"Is it worth another try suggesting it as a tool only - not long term use?"

I don't believe this is a route you would want to take, simply because some people would try to use it as a permanent fix, but is there a tool company it could be marketed through? Again, I understand that the newest of these engines is twenty years old and we may be too late in the game.

Alternatively, have you considered putting a clear or removable 'window' in the side of the distributor caps?

 

[Pinger]

Forced to R&R distributor on my '98 Vortec 5.7 ,and was advised to take an old cap. Cut "windows" in the top being careful not to cut any spark circuits. Install cap/wires ,and start engine. Prop open throttle to around 1000 rpm. Loosen distributor bolt ,and slowly turn from one direction to the other while watching the spark path inside the cap. leaning one way ,and then the other as it grows/shrinks in size. We're looking for the shortest ,straightest spark . Tighten distributor bolt ,and reinstall "normal" cap along with spark wires. You should now be golden. No scan tool ,no plugging/unplugging ,no fooling.... Worked like a charm on mine.

Won't that only cover the no-load 1000 rpm (and anywhere else the timing is exactly the same) condition?
As the timing is advanced or retarded (at different load/speed combinations), wont the spark path elongate and in different directions?

To use this method, would it be better to set where the timing is smack in the middle of its range. Hypothetical I admit and probably impossible to achieve but a valid point?

 

[El Tigre]

Don't believe it has as much to do with timing as getting cam sensor "in phase" with what PCM is looking for.

 

[Hipster]

Won't that only cover the no-load 1000 rpm (and anywhere else the timing is exactly the same) condition?
As the timing is advanced or retarded (at different load/speed combinations), wont the spark path elongate and in different directions?

To use this method, would it be better to set where the timing is smack in the middle of its range. Hypothetical I admit and probably impossible to achieve but a valid point?

What was described sounds more like the process used for checking distributor phasing. Msd sells a windowed cap to check for phasing for their distributors.

 

[Hipster]

Dropping a distributor in a tooth or 2 off and spinning things around to get it fire may work but it's not really the right way to do this. Most manuals are pretty specific in where the distributor gets dropped in at and the discussions become lengthy for a reason.

One tooth off equals about 3 degrees off on the camshaft/ trigger relationship. The distributor needs to be indexed into the block correctly, and no, moving the distributor more doesn't fix a phasing problem.

 

[El Tigre]

Even without being off a tooth. One can easily get a check engine light post distributor R&R. There are tools to accomplish this ,and this is just another way. Obviously if distributor is installed incorrectly ,this "trick" will not fix it.

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[El Tigre]

Believe there are clear cap on ebay. Tempted ,but didn't buy one.
They did look pretty cool though

 

[884x4310ci]

Sounds like your timing is off.