Vacuum advance

[78 280zcar]

Hello ya all, I am having a problem with my 280z, it idles rough and I checked the vacuum advance unit and it isnt holding air, it looks to be the original unit. Does anyone know where to get one online. Is there anything else I should check, I wish I could send a link to let you guys know what it sounds like but I dont know how to do that, I's an idiot to the web :stupid:, but is there anything else I should check, I havent changed the fuel filter for about 2 years could this be a problem too. Any ideas would be a great help

[78 280zcar]

In taking the distributor aprt I found a ball the size of a BB inside there is that suppose to be there and it was also loose

[TomoHawk]

There are bearings inside for the advance mechanism held by a plastic cage. the cage often breaks and the advance fails.

http://www.geocities.com/zgarage2001/engine.html

[Bambikiller240]

If the Vac advance "isn't holding air" it's probable that the diaphram has a leak. The BB most likely came from the "cage" Tomohawk referred to. These are 2 separate parts. Maybe you can find a used distributor, cheaper than buying the parts?