Howdy all,

I have my 88 GL in the shop getting its engine resealed. I got an update from them an apparently the distributor rotor had melted in the distributor, or potentially tore it somehow? It wasn't melted/torn at the head, but at the base of the rotor head. Luckily it turns out I have an extra, however would anyone know why something like this would have happened? It was an older part, and I don't when it was last replaced, so it could be that it was just on the way out anyways. I hadn't had any issues with anything ignition or engine electrical before. I'm a bit worried that they're going to put the replacement in and the same thing might happen, it not immediately, maybe a few 100 miles down the freeway. Attached are some photos of the damage the shop sent to me. Any wisdom would be appreciated.

Thank you!

-Philly

Edited July 13, 2025Jul 13 by LaMamelle

Kinda hard to tell much from those pics...  But it doesn't matter much anyway.  You're going to need to inspect the distributor.  Shaft wobbles so much the rotor is hitting things?  Time for bushings.  Some part of the advance mechanism loose and jamming into the rotor?  Repair.  Etc.  Find nothing wrong?  Put in a new rotor and inspect periodically.

 

First thought that comes to my mind is the bearing failed, the shaft got some weeble-wobble and cooked the bearing. Heat went up the shaft and cooked the rotor. 

If this is an optical distributor, I'd be curious of the condition of the "eye" (the little donut-shaped module that sits under the rotor beneath the metal shield.) That eye module is also made of plastic. It may have also been damaged if this is a toasty bearing scenario.

:]

Thanks for the advice, I'll be heading over to the shop tomorrow to drop off the replacement and I'll see if I can get a look at it or see if they've already done that themselves. When I have more info I'll update, hopefully with good news.

Looks like my replacement worked just fine, been driving it around for a couple of days with no issues. Not exactly sure what it could have been. I'll just have to keep checking it periodically for any signs of wear. 

Edited July 18, 2025Jul 18 by LaMamelle