I just need some ideas on this one fellas...

So I'll drive the car for maybe 20 minutes and it begins to cut power when I press the gas.

I replaced the plugs and checked them, looked a little lean and maybe too much timing so I dropped it back to OEM spec (had it advanced 2 degrees for ~5 years without one problem)

No check engine light at all.

I pulled the cap off the distributor and found all this **** in the bottom of it (see pic), not sure if it's just sediment build up or if it's actual metal filings from the distributor. Someone had mentioned to me previously that this could indicate the distributor is on it's way out ? Is this true ?

Any other ideas you have would help tremendously ! Thanks

 

also is there any other basic distributor trouble shooting worth doing ?

 

so I just test drove the car after putting timing back to OEM and it still has the same problem...Not sure what would cause this without throwing a CE light

 

any ideas at all ?

 

Have you check the rotor? Could be worn out...
It could have a loose holding screw on the rotor and the rotor is not spinning well or rubbing the other plastic cover....

I have personally seen a few off this case....

 

The dust may indicate that the distributor has a bad bearing, so it would probably be best to replace the entire distributor.