The 'E' Type Forum

I have a series 1 OTS 3.8 made in late 1964. The distributor is a 22D6 model number 40887D which Holden Vintage and Classic and The Distributor Doctor both agree is correct. Interestingly this distributor does not feature in the Haynes Manual or the huge Jag E type Service Manual. The ignition advance races towards 40 degrees or so when engine speed is 1200 revs and above even when I remove the vacuum advance. I have acurately marked the timing points on the damper during a rebuild. Does anybody have the advance curve for the 40887D distributor and where I can obtain some new centrifugal weights and springs. I intend to fit these and have their effect tested by someone with a test rig. I would have sent it to to The Distributor Doctor for a complete overhaul but he is quoting 10 weeks backlog. Does anybody know another distributor expert I can use?

Thanks to all of you who spend time helping lost souls like me.

According to my Lucas reference guide, there was no stipulated model for which 40887 was designed, indeed my guide only has 40887 A and 40887B listed. The spec for this distributor was ( all in crankshaft degrees)

No advance before 650 ( A ) or 500 ( B ) rpm
2.5 degs at 900
16 degs at 1700
24 degs at 4000

If one adds the static advance of 10 degs this approximates to the 34 degs total required , and the intermediate figures correspond closely with the required curve. It sounds as though the springs in yours have gone slack, or that the weights are sticking open. Incidentally, if you take yours to pieces, the bob weight plate should have a number stamped on it showing maximum advance 12