Small Block & Big Block Chevy Specific - timing jumping off on carbed sbc

i've got an 87 camaro with a 1st gen small block chevy in it.

after i drive it for more than a couple miles the distributor cap keeps sliding and retarding itself. i have to get the timing light out and reset it everyday before i drive it again. i torqued the shit out of the hold down clamp. but that doesn't seem to help.
i will say that there is a small leak in the back of the carb. it slowly drips out. i'm thinking that the slippery gas might be getting on the distributor gasket. nbut i'm not sure if that is the problem or not.

i was wondering if any of ya'll had some tricks to help a problem like this?

Are you sure the hold down clamp is not bent?

Al

Are you sure the hold down clamp is not bent?

Al

Yea, get a new hold down clamp. Not a cheapie stamped steel one either.

yea, the clamp i have on there right now was like 4 bucks. i'll try a high dollar one. hopefully i'll have some luck.

do ya'll not think the gas leaking could be a reason also?

If the clamp is tight enough, it shouldn't make a difference. I got to remember that oil is on the bottom side of the gasket. Oil is just a slippery.

I know this sounds dumb.. but make sure that the bolt you are using on your holddown isn't too long. I used one once that would not bottom out before it applied enough force on the clamp to hold the distributor in place.

I know this sounds dumb.. but make sure that the bolt you are using on your holddown isn't too long. I used one once that would not bottom out before it applied enough force on the clamp to hold the distributor in place.


Very good point. You could try a stud/nut type setup.

Very good point. You could try a stud/nut type setup.

yea. thats what i actually did. i used a stud. then a washer. then a lock washer. it still didn't work. its driving me crazy. i pulled the distributor the other day just to make sure it wasn't jumping. and my bronze gears seemed to be in good shape. that means it couldn't be jumping right?

Did you replace the clamp yet? There is a good but slim possibility that the shaft is bent creating a side load that binds up the housing and causes it to jump. with a bronze gear, I imagine that you are running a roller cam?

yea. its a roller cam. and i went to o'riellys to get a new clamp. the only one they had in the shelf was a mr gasket brand clamp. it had a stud set up with it. so i tried to put it on but it didn't seem to fit right with my intake manifold. it was too bulky. i'm running an edlebrock rpm air gap. so i tried putting the stud on there with my original clamp.

its getting worse. now when i try and set the timing, the timing won't hold still. it keeps jumping around the timing mark. does anyone know why it might do this?

You might want to check and make sure the outer ring on the balancer is not spinning on the hub.