hi im new here and new to camaro's i just recently perchased a 1990 camaro rs with a 3.1L mpfi v6 and started to get it running when i found that the distributor rotor was tearing into the cap. later that day i went to the local parts store and perchased a new cap and rotor since they were both torn up. now today after driving a about a mile since i replaced them ( i live is a really small town) i was about to replace the magnetic coil on the distributor when i found that the new rotor had already started to ruin the new cap. so... now i have two questions
1. what is the cause of the cap and rotor problem and how can i stop it
2. how do you take the top of the distributor apart to change the magnetic coil because the one that is on it looks pretty worn out.
p.s i think that the car was hit on the rear passanger side just behind the back wheel because nothing on the passengers side seems to line up like it should and the fender is bent in slightly. thanks for reading this and if you need to know more about the car i can try to tell you as much as i know

 

As for Number 1, the bushing in the distributor shaft has gone bad and is causing the rotor to make contact with the cap.

For # 2, just replace the distributor with a rebuilt one, it's easier than doing it yourself and it comes complete with a rebuilt housing, shaft, pickup and ICM already installed ready to drop in.

I had a problem similar to yours a few months ago when my bushing went bad and caused the housing to get REALLY hot, which in turn overheated the ICM and it cut out. After it cooled THe car would run for 30 seconds and then cut out again. Replaced the ICM, still happened, so I put in a rebuilt...bam, problem solved. When I took out the old one, it was so hard to spin by hand, no wonder it heated up.

 

thanks for the response 2_point8_boy. i don't have the money for a new distributor right now but when i do replace it i'll let you know how it works out

 

That's the only choice you have, until then, you're just going to eat up caps and $rotors everytime you drive the car. It's only $149 from AZ

 

where did you get your distributor at, and how much do you think it would cost in ID? my moneys kinda tight right now. i'm only 15 and i'm working 2 jobs to pay for all of this but they don't pay s**t i only get about $300 a month cuz they're only part time one is only 3 hours a week. plus im in the process of buying a 1992 audi so i have to pay $200 a month for it.(i got realy good deals for my cars only $1200 for the audi and $250 for the camaro)

 

I got that price off Autozone.com. You plug in the Make Model and year and it'll give you the price, and since that's what it is for my 88, I think your 91 will be the same. There's a $50 core charge, but it's refundable and if you take the old one in with you, they won't even charge you for it. Just take it out after setting the motor to TDC, then have a buddy give you a ride.