Daisy-Mae gave me a ration of grief!

[Stude Shoo-wop!]

Not too long ago, the distributor on my darling '62 Hawk decided it did not want to work anymore. That's all well and good, it was getting worn anyway. However, I have barely have her back for a week before another problem surfaced. There I was, making an absolute buffoon of myself in my bank's parking lot as I cranked the starter for close to a 1/2 hour. Not fun in the slightest! I somehow managed to limp her over to my mechanic and boy howdy did I receive a kick in the head!

Let me explain. As it turns out, the replacement distributor that I had was rebuilt improperly. The screw holding down the rotor was too short. This allowed the rotor assembly to spin freely, thus wrecking my points more effectively than New England levels of corrosion. Also, the dwell got itself to .47 instead of .30 where it should be. Fun. Anyway, I was able to source new points courtesy of Studebaker International but the final bill is going to be rather expensive.

I didn't even tell the clincher yet. You see, this Saturday is my prom. My senior prom. The big one! I won't get those points until Monday!

Oh well. No one ever did say that owning an old car would be easy or cheap. Besides, this was a situation that I had absolutely no control over so all I can really do is grin and bear it.

Best of luck lads! Have a pleasant weekend with your Studes like I wish I could!

[Bo Markham]

Not too long ago, the distributor on my darling '62 Hawk decided it did not want to work anymore. That's all well and good, it was getting worn anyway. However, I have barely have her back for a week before another problem surfaced. There I was, making an absolute buffoon of myself in my bank's parking lot as I cranked the starter for close to a 1/2 hour. Not fun in the slightest! I somehow managed to limp her over to my mechanic and boy howdy did I receive a kick in the head!

Let me explain. As it turns out, the replacement distributor that I had was rebuilt improperly. The screw holding down the rotor was too short. This allowed the rotor assembly to spin freely, thus wrecking my points more effectively than New England levels of corrosion. Also, the dwell got itself to .47 instead of .30 where it should be. Fun. Anyway, I was able to source new points courtesy of Studebaker International but the final bill is going to be rather expensive.

I didn't even tell the clincher yet. You see, this Saturday is my prom. My senior prom. The big one! I won't get those points until Monday!

Oh well. No one ever did say that owning an old car would be easy or cheap. Besides, this was a situation that I had absolutely no control over so all I can really do is grin and bear it.

Best of luck lads! Have a pleasant weekend with your Studes like I wish I could!

All you had to do was call Stephen Allen's, or Markham Motors and you could have had them first thing in the morning......

[AnAvanti4Bob]

Jake, you are still cool for school even without Daisy Mae as your companion. Congratulations on your graduation and here's to making memories with your GT Hawk after graduation. (Loved your Hawk video !!!)

[StudeRich]

Sorry you had that trouble Jake.

If it is a Stock Distributor, either a Prestolite or a Delco, especially a Delco Early or Late Window Type Delco,< (I believe due to the screws in the Rotor it is) your Local Parts Store will have them on the shelf or from their Warehouse by Tomorrow!

Just ask for a '57 to '62 Chev. V8 with the separate Condenser and Points.

Just keep the S.I. ones for a spare.

UPDATE: I just realized that you said the Points were damaged, it the Rotor was loose, it would be the Dist. Cap that would be damaged, NOT the Points!

[Dick LeRoux]

What Rich said or else go to NAPA. Bet you'll find a match. They still cross reference Studebaker parts so you have a strong possibility of finding what you need.

[Mrs K Corbin]

it's getting harder to cross match stuff these days.......
However it's also a good idea to keep a spare.

I'd also recommend taking a mechanic's course when you can just to learn as much as you can about that car.
Primarily to get yourself out of the trouble you're bound to get into, plus keep costs down.
A call to the local bunch of the SDC should have netted you a set in a few minutes or hours.

[JimKB1MCV]

Sorry for your problems, Jake.

What happened was/is not unusual, its sort of the price of admission for using our elderly iron for daily transportation.

You did put a couple drops of oil on the wick under the rotor button and some oil in the oil cup on the side of the distributor body when you installed the new distributor?

Now that there are no corner service stations to help with the nickel and dime problems that are bound to crop up, the owner/driver has to be able to handle them his/herself.

Its not a bad idea to keep a set of points and a condenser in the glove compartment.

Enjoy your car.

[StudeNewby]

...or make the switch to electronic ignition...

[Studebakercenteroforegon]

...or make the switch to electronic ignition...

And then you can have a whole new set of problems!

[Lou Van Anne]

Daisy-Mae must be Problem Child's twin sister....?

[spokejr]

...or make the switch to electronic ignition...

To me, it's a pointless exercise!

Ken

[8E45E]

To me, it's a pointless exercise!

Are you being serious? Or trying to be funny?

Craig

[sweetolbob]

To me, it's a pointless exercise!

Ken

Well played! Sir, Well played!

[Studedude]

To me, it's a pointless exercise!

That's punny!

[spokejr]

Are you being serious? Or trying to be funny?

Craig

Both. I went through 3 Pertronix units within a year. I now have points back in my Avanti.

Ken