To shim the clearance between the distributor housing and the gear do I remove the gear add shims and then replace gear. Sounds like a dumb questioan. Or do the shims go somewhere else. What is the correct clearance between the gear and housing for a GM HEI vacume control non comuter.
I did a search and came up with between .012 and .020. Is that correct.
there should be no clearance at all. If there is the distributor or pumpshaft are not in correctly and lined up. If its sticking up about 1/8 to 1/4 inch, your distributor is sitting on top of the pump shaft, rather than down in the slot.
Im not talking about the clearance between the distributor and the intake. Im talking about the clearance between the disributor housing and the distributor drive gear. Make sence?
There's a little brass shim. As long as it's not binding or wore excessive it should be OK. You may have to drive the pin from the gear and pull it off to put a new shim on if it is wore. I don't know the #s but what you posted sounds pretty tight(but not too tight). I would only concern myself with those #s if I was going to blueprint the dizzy, is that what you are doing?
Im going to pull the distributor to put a curve kit in and I was going to check the clearance of the drive gear to the body. Thought it would be a good time to check since it would be out.
You don't need to pull it to re-curve it...but if you do it would be good to check it. Plus you'll be able to see how free the shaft spins and what not.
Everything that I have read states the endplay to be that much. But if you have to shim it drastically to get the end play out, it may not seat properly on the intake.
You need two things. One: the clearance should be .020, if not use a shim kit from one of the after-market mfg.s. most of the time at least .030 will be needed in the GM's. put the shims between the shim that is already there and the dist. not the gear. Two: make sure the dist. sits all the way down on the manifold without the gasket, then remove and put the gasket on. That way you make sure there is no bind in the entire connection between the pump and the bottom of the dist.. Also take note, when you drive the pin out of the gear, the bottom outside of the gear has a small (5/16") hole drilled partway through. This indent must line up with the metal end of the rotor. :welcome:
Even if the end play checks OK it's a good idea to drive the pin out of the gear. The shaft and bushings tend to get gunked up and freeze up the mechanical advance.
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