[PANAVIA]

ok, so the basics.

What Ronbo mentions sounds plausible.

so here is the semi detailed explanation.

Aluminum is a conductor (wire) and will transport electricity from one place to another. with that said, there are two or threee things that come to mind with your issue.

1. Mechanical (force) interference: the air cleaner oval base of aluminum is putting pressure upon the the distributor cap causing some sort of misalignment or aggravating some sort of damaged part inside. This could be the distributor cap, its rotor inside that directs the spark to the various spark plug wires, or the base distributor base itself.

With the air cleaner installed, there should be clearance between the top of the distributor wires , and the bottom of the air cleaner base.

2. Electrical issue: the Ignition coil (small redbull can attached by 1 large wire to the center of the 8+1 wire distributor cap.) If this is having an issue where the rubber isolation of the coil to distributor wire is unable to keep the electrical current inside the wire and transport it to the distributor cap , it may arch (like a little lightening bolt) to the base of your air cleaner. (look for little black marks on the underside of the air cleaner base.

What I would do.

1. Check and see of the distributor cap and wires show signs of damage, age or wear. If so --replace them.

1B. place a piece of cardboard 5"x5" on top of the distributor cap and install the air cleaner base, middle and lid. if the cardboard compresses or dents at all, STOP. you have a interference issue and need *not* to have the air cleaner base PRESSING DOWN on the distributor cap. if is does not press down on the cardboard , you can try to fire up the engine and see if the it will fire up,* if it will * then you have an electrical (spark plug wires and coil wire issue) problem.

2. figure out how to get some space between the base of the air cleaner, and the top of the distributor. this can be accomplished by a spacer between the the carburetor top and air cleaner base (say 1/4") and double check hood clearance so that the hood closes and does not contact the TOP of the air cleaner oval. another option would be to add/insert a second carburetor gasket underneath the carb jacking it up 1/8".

2. Verify that your distributor is not damaged, or its cap cracked.

3. Figure out if the rotor (inside the distributor cap) is rotating freely and is not damaged .

Send me a PM if you get stuck.

--Steve