You can make the spring by wrapping thin piano wire around a #16 penny nail
and then cutting it to 3/4" length.
The distributor drive gear on the distributor will "Bounce" each time you
decelerate the car and the spring reduces this gear back out reaction.

Stan Wilder
Engine Ceramics
214-352-4931
www.engineceramics.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "George Goff" <THX0001@AOL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, September 05, 2005 7:14 AM
Subject: Re: rattle INSIDE engine

> In a message dated 9/5/05 4:53:50 AM, albeeee@MCHSI.COM writes:
>
> << If the drive had excessive end play and was smacking up against the
> distributor every half turn, that might be my sound! It has about the
> right timbre or tone, if you know what I mean.
> Any suggestions? >>
>
> Al,
>
> Are you sure that the spring which is supposed to be inside the
distributor
> drive coupling is in place?  Someone on the List posted that he often
finds
> these springs missing whenever he pulls a distributor.  I do not know if
the lack
> of one can cause the rattle you are talking about, but it is in the area
of
> where you think the noise is centered and it is easily checked.
>
> George