My 2.0 86 Mighty Max is running really rough

[Mitsuzero]

That's what I found on my truck, the distributor vacuum advance diaphragm was not holding vacuum. You might have to buy a whole new distributor because I'm having a hell of a time finding a replacement vacuum advance

[Andres483]

Here is a link to the 1987 distributor vacuum advance actuator that fit my 1986 truck and it might fit the distributor on the 2.0L engine as well... There is a Tel No. at the page bottom to contact Standard Parts Company & hopefully they can source the part...
https://www.standardbrand.com/en/ecatalog?partdetail=VC-268

Thanks for the help but the vacuum advance on my truck it a little bit different the arm is curved on it but im going to try and rebuild it tomorrow and see what it does I took it apart already and it was so brittle

[Mitsuzero]

If you rebuild it could you let me know how you did it? I appear to be in the same boat as you, since we have the same issue with our distributors

[xboxrox]

CARBURATION TECHNOLOGY in Tacoma, WA Alan there will rebuild a vacuum actuator or give you advice via telephone ~ I was unable to login to his website perhaps because I am using a military connection as guest now ?

[Mitsuzero]

i was able to find the website, i'll give him a call

[Andres483]

So after rebuilding the vacuum advance twice it still didn't want to hold vacuum so im just going to buy a remafactured distributor from my local parts store it's 160 and its a lifetime warranty in case it goes bad

[maddmax]

Although hey didn't actually rebuild my vacuum advance, they were able to find an exact replacement for my 1986 2.0 g63b. my-classic-car-trader.com/distributor-vacuum-advance-rebuilding/. $99.00 plus shipping.

[xboxrox]

Alan at Carburetion Technology is the man that I would choose to rebuild the 2.0L vacuum advancer (during the covid shutdown he shared info over the phone to help me rebuild my Mikuni carb) his website link here: http://www.carbtech.us/service/


Good info guys thanks for posting I can't find a 2.0L vacuum advancer anywhere online 2.6L is available though ~ O'Reilly's has a $83.00 core charge for the old distributor IMHO it's almost worth just keeping it unless money is an issue ~ FWIW I cleaning my distributor cap contacts & rotor which made the engine run much better but it had 2 or 3 quick engine misfires at 65mph on the H3 freeway so luckily Napa Kailua had one cap & rotor on hand and the truck runs great now (lesson learned)
Hope you guys can get the parts you need & then post the source.
It might be worth a tel call to Standard Products to see if they can provide or source the 2.0L vacuum advancer.

Good Luck

[Andres483]

I installed the new distributor and now it advances but when I had the truck idling I noticed the idle kind of fluctuates but when I tap the gas it runs smooth for a little bit and then it goes back to idling rough

[xboxrox]

How clean is the PCV valve ~ I think it only allows (crankcase gases) flow to the intake manifold & like a check valve no flow in the opposite direction ~ if you can locate an engine Trouble Shooting chart it will list the most likely cause of rough idle ~ don't be surprised if you end up having to learn A LOT and FIX a lot under that hood...

P.S. your truck is a 1986 Gen1 ?? Question, is the dome light inside the cab working & is the lens cover in good shape ?? If not then check out my thread in the Gen1 truck section ;^)

[Andres483]

How clean is the PCV valve ~ I think it only allows (crankcase gases) flow to the intake manifold & like a check valve no flow in the opposite direction ~ if you can locate an engine Trouble Shooting chart it will list the most likely cause of rough idle ~ don't be surprised if you end up having to learn A LOT and FIX a lot under that hood...

P.S. your truck is a 1986 Gen1 ?? Question, is the dome light inside the cab working & is the lens cover in good shape ?? If not then check out my thread in the Gen1 truck section ;^)

The pcv valve doesn't have no flow in the in the opposite direction but it does have flow going the other way but yeah I know this truck need some work but now I have time to actually work on it I just need help on what should be replaced and I know it going to take some time to fix everything