What Is It?

[skipxt4]

I have been stock piling all the items I will need to put my 09 back in my 64. A bunch of new parts have been added, along with rebuilding other good usable parts. Future fire up date will commence in July 07 (I hope) This engine last ran in 1973, so I have been W-deprived for 33-34 Years. I have a question that I know someone, has the answer. Yesterday, I completely disassembled my stock Delco distributor. The upper dist. shaft bushing has a circular wicking and a plastic cup under it. Under the cup: It looks like dried grease,:dunno but smells like varnish.:eek: What kind of grease should I put back in? Thanks in advance. Skip:clap

[oldskydog]

It's a special non-conductive grease for electrical use called "dielectric "available at any auto parts store.

[skipxt4]

oldskydog: Thanks for responding, but I think I might not have explained the usage of the grease. The upper bushing has a small hole, for the grease to melt into, and lubricate the distributor shaft. I don't know if dielectric grease has any lubricating qualities. As for protecting electrical connections its the best. Skip :)

[oldskydog]

Skip,
Sorry for not reading better. Is that an original 64 dist? I haven't seen that configuration on the older distributors. I"m obviously no expert but as I recall on the earlier distributors without the oiling tube on the side, the upper bushing received engine oil for lube from below and had a seal on top to prevent oil from leaking up into the points area. The only lube from above was the cam wick which was replaced for service instead of lubed. I'm not sure what they used for lubricant , but on the 6 cyl dist the service manual calls for chassis lube for the upper bushing. The V-8 dist was designed differently. If there is a wick ring and hole to the bushing I would think light oil in the wick would do it but what prevents the engine oil from below the bushing from leaking up especially with crankcase pressure. I think there is such a thing as electric motor oil which might be thing to use.
:doh :scratch

[region rat]

Delco had a product called , oddly enugh, distributor grease. I still have a tube in my toolbox. I used it to lube rubbing blocks on points. A chassis manual would have coorect lube to use. I've used white gease or the distrbutor grease and never noticed a differance. Bob