[wretched ratchet]

My son lives about 2 hours from me and I've been trying to help him get a new distributor installed over the phone but with no success.

Is there a possibility that the "new" distributor he has could be the wrong one because it won't drop all the way down to where it seals off. Are there more than one length of shaft for those engines?

I know that a question like this goes against some of Y'alls grain but I was hoping that maybe someone could offer some help since I can't.

Thanks,
WR

[RWENUTS]

I've heard of the tang on the bottom of the distributor shaft being a touch too big and not fitting in the oil pump slot. Dress it with a file. Should drop in then.

[327NUT]

He just needs to line up the oil pump shaft with the bottom of the dist. Some guys click the engine over till it drops but he can also use a long screw driver to turn the oil pump shaft to match the dist. Takes a little "kentuck" windage but it will work. Just make sure he's got the rotor in the right spot when done.

[poncho62]

Yep...what 327NUT said.......

[techinspector1]

Yep...what poncho62 said.......

Here's a tutorial that may help also....
http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/w...valves_SBC_BBC

[wretched ratchet]

Thanks Gents, I've emailed him this link so he sould be good to go now.

[poncho62]

...I think someone's son should join a forum.... .

[techinspector1]

Yep...what poncho62 said.......

[68NovaSS]

I've had the oil pump shaft lay over to the side on me before if it didn't have a sleeve and it was tough to stab it. I've used a dab of wheel bearing grease on a long screwdriver to coat the shaft, making it stick to the bore, holding it straight long enough to drop the distributor onto it. Kind of a hit and miss deal, and worse with a blower butted against it. I've made up some new words in the past doing it.

Like all the guys said above, turn the pump to align the slot first, compensating for the twist into the cam gear, so you wind up with the rotor pointing at the #1 tower.

[wretched ratchet]

Originally Posted by poncho62

...I think someone's son should join a forum.... .

I'll mention it and warn him who to watch out for

[eloc431962]

X4 or somthing like that with 327Nut/ Poncho / Tech.



Cole

[eloc431962]

Originally Posted by poncho62

...I think someone's son should join a forum.... .

X2 what Poncho said.



Cole

[wretched ratchet]

Update: just a quickie to let you know that my son found the problem after reading some of Y'alls posts about something possibly being in the way of the shaft. He ended up getting a pair of long nosed pliers and removing an old push rod locking nut that had fallen down by the oil pump hole and was keeping the dist shaft from slipping into place. Once he removed the nut the distributor fell right into place. Now he's in the process of getting it cranked and I expect to hear from him soon. Thanks again, WR

[fasteddy_1947]

Reason the distributor won't 'drop down' all the way is the oil pump drive. use a slotted dowell or broomstick, or something that won't drop into and get stuck in the engine to just turn the shaft to line up with distributor shaft. the slot in the distributor shaft and the pin in the oil pump shaft need to line up. they get out of alignment if the engine is turned even a wee bit with the distributor out as without the distributor. the cam drives the distributor, the distributor drives the oil pump, no distributor, no oil pump.