[DeTomaso] #9321 is back on the road, vibration issue?

[JDeRyke at aol.com]

Joern, if you needed to twist the distributor to reset timing, something 
moved! Either the hold-down clamp wasn't tight or the distributor drive gear does 
NOT have a reinforced roll-pin. All distributors inculuding high-dollar 
aftermarket ones need that pin doubled or upgraded. Spring-pins will progressively 
fail, allowing the timing to move toward retarded (often causing backfires) 
until the pin completely breaks. I'd remove the distributor and look through the 
pin center to see if both sides are still straight. 
And as Thomas said, the oil lines to a front-mount cooler should be a minimum 
of 1/2" inside diameter; 3/4" will be better for such long runs. IMHO stock 
GT-5 lines and the cooler itself are dangerously small. I personally use 1/2" 
ID lines, a $29  Flow-Cool oil thermostat that opens at 192 F(from Jegs Speed 
Shop) with an oil-to-water Laminova cooler that is mounted only a foot away 
from the engine. Good luck- J DeRyke