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By RossL - Last Month
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I recently installed a CRT distributor/coil in my 55 Thunderbird 292 (stock engine), auto trans. When I was checking the advance at different RPM's, I notice the timing strobe is not steady at RPM's higher than 2000. Once every 5 seconds the pulse/light beam stops for what looks like one firing cycle. Then it's steady for another 5 seconds and it misses again. Same issue with and without vac advance connected OR plugged. At idle the everything is TOTALLY consistent.
Once the car cools off, I am going to put my 57 distributor and coil back in to check it.
My timing light is an 30 year old Craftsman dial back light that I never had a problem with. I checked it against a friends SUN timing light and it seemed to match. Wires are
Taylor about a year old, spark plugs are new.
Any ideas?
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By Deyomatic - Last Month
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That's strange. Did it sound like it's running right? The light I have has an arrow showing which direction it's supposed to clamp to the wire. Could yours have been backwards, or something?
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By RossL - Last Month
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Deyomatic (7/28/2025)
That's strange. Did it sound like it's running right? The light I have has an arrow showing which direction it's supposed to clamp to the wire. Could yours have been backwards, or something?
It was running good, except for it running hot @ 75MPH/3000 RPM. I've been using this light for 30 years. I never had to orient the spark wire clamp in either direction. I am going to take a closer look at the clamp and see if there are any directional indicators.
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By KULTULZ - Last Month
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"Once the car cools off, I am going to put my 57 distributor and coil back in to check it."
The BIRD has a 12V CONV?
Usually, if the light skips, it shows a misfire on that cylinder.
Please post how it does with the DUAL ADVANCE.
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By RossL - Last Month
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KULTULZ (7/29/2025)
"Once the car cools off, I am going to put my 57 distributor and coil back in to check it." The BIRD has a 12V CONV? Usually, if the light skips, it shows a misfire on that cylinder. Please post how it does with the DUAL ADVANCE.
The car is 12V. With the 57 Distributor and coil the timing light now looks steady at 2500-3000 RPM. I am running 20 degrees initial, since I don't have an easy way to adjust the 57 total timing (which is now 42). I am going to re-install the CRT and give it another try before I contact them
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By 55blacktie - Last Month
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Although I have a CRT distributor, it's still in the box. Unfortunately, reaching out to CRT could be a challenge. Keep us posted.
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By RossL - 3 Weeks Ago
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55blacktie (7/29/2025)
Although I have a CRT distributor, it's still in the box. Unfortunately, reaching out to CRT could be a challenge. Keep us posted.
I've been in contact with Roger at CRT. Considering customer service in 2025 is not a priority in the universe, I am impressed with CRT. I will let you know if my problem gets resolved, I do NOT have any indication it won't.
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By RossL - 9 hours ago
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The coil was bad. It also started to misfire and the car was stalling out on the road when hot. I had to get the car towed home once on a very hot day. I thought it was caused by a vapor lock issue that I have been dealing with.
I eventually installed the stock distributor and coil, misfire and backfiring went away. After talking to CRT and reinstalling another distributor the backfiring and misfiring returned. I then installed a different coil and the problem went away.
Now I am concerned the coil may have damaged the modules in the distributor. Changing out the module requires removal and complete disassembly of the distributor, this is not something you can fix on the side of the road
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By 55blacktie - 7 hours ago
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Good point. I have AAA towing.They will tow a disabled vehicle, but they won't tow a vehicle that's been disassembled, like one undergoing repairs or restoration. When I moved my Tbird to my new home, I had to pay for another tow service.
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