What is the canister between distributor and carburetor on vacuum line?

There is a little canister with a dial between my distributor and carburetor on vacuum line. What is it?


Thanks!
Craig

Do you have pics. What do you mean with a dial? It may just be a vacume resevoir but it may be something someone added to aid in tuning. Are you sure it goes to the Dizzy and not the fuel pump ( may be a fuel pressure regulator)

Jess

What year/model car are we talking about here? The only thing I can think of is an OSAC (Orifice Spark Advance Control) valve used in many '70s-'80s vehicles. I think they are usually mounted on the firewall or air cleaner and are supposed to delay the vaccum advance to reduce detonation/NOX emissions.

-James

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Picture attached.

When I turn the dial it regulates the vacuum to the distreibutor. Nice little thing, but not sure if it is standard.



I did need to turn down the vacuum a bit, I was too far advanced (vacuum advanced) at idle.

Take off faster now.

Craig

Not standard equipment. Run the hose directly from the carburetor to the distributor, bypassing this strange widget.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

And then send said "widget" to Dan for analysis.

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82 D150-225/727
02 Dakota-3.9/5 speed
87 GMC C7000-8.2 Detroit Diesel/5+2

It is a great thing. I can turn down the vacuum and get less vacuum advance at idle. And that let's me actually get moving!

I always just kinda gave it a look and didn't think of it.

But maybe it is there, because my dist should not be attached to direct vacuum? Doesn't a carb have a port that isn't straight vacuum?

Craig

Hook the vacuum advance to the ported vacuum nipple on the carburetor. Can't remember where it is on the 1945....I think its toward the front of the engine.

If you have the hose hooked to the correct port, there is not supposed to be any vacuum advance at idle, that is why they call it "ported" vacuum. The vacuum port does not receive any signal until the throttle blade moves past it.

Sounds like your distributor could use a recurve. Attach the line directly to the carburetor.

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82 D150-225/727
02 Dakota-3.9/5 speed
87 GMC C7000-8.2 Detroit Diesel/5+2

I will try and find that port, and let you know how it works.

I do think I need to re-curve the dist. Where can I get different springs and such for it?


Craig

When I recurved my distributor, I used a 10r governor, left the stock "light" spring in place, and replaced the heavy spring with the light spring from a big block distributor (72 400). It worked great and really woke up my sleepy Duster, then the engine died a week later (totally unrelated).

Every application is different though. What year is your car?

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82 D150-225/727
02 Dakota-3.9/5 speed
87 GMC C7000-8.2 Detroit Diesel/5+2

I found the correct port on the carburetor and connected that to the distributor. Also removed the funny regulator thingy.

RUNS BETTER!

The curve in the distributor might be OK, I am not sure. Will have to explore that one a bit more when it gets warmer or I feel like getting it into the garage again.

It is a 76 PowerWagon W100 4x4.


Thanks for all the help,

Craig

WOW, 4x4 slant! Don't see many of those around! Did the previous owner have a really long arm to adjust that valve while driving?

-James

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Well the truck is never fast. But the /6 is really great for 4x4ing. It has all the torque a 4x4 could ever need (and more).

Also it does not have the overheating issue v8's can get into when driving slow (like in traffic or 4x4ing). I know not all v8's do that, but I see it a lot on the trails.

I get up the hill last, BUT I could have pulled a house behind me!


Craig

Glad you got it fixed Craig! Now that you got that fixed, you can play around with different tuning settings. Did you ever look at the jet size in your carburetor?