Distributor Install
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Palatine Illinois
Distributor Install
Recently I have just replaced my vacuum advance on the distributor and now that i have it all back together I cannot seem to get the whole distributor back in. I have the engine already set for the firing of cylinder one and have marked my cap for the drive gear to fall into the oil pump but cannot get it to falll into place. I have been working on this for about a week or so in my shop class and have to stop myself everyday because I get so angry that I feel like I'm going to break something. Anyone got anything to help.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Palatine Illinois
That's what i have been doing and I adjust for it to spin when it catches the gears vbut won't sit all the way down. The oil pump shaft has some play in it do you think that it could be that?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 5,662
Likes: 2,344
From: Lake Minnetonka, Mn
2018 C1 of Year Finalist
There is always a certain amount of play in the pump shaft. I doubt that is your problem. Why don't you just roll the engine over to TDC on the compression stroke and try inserting it again.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,142
Likes: 282
2018 C2 of Year Finalist
2015 C2 of the Year Finalist
Recently I have just replaced my vacuum advance on the distributor and now that i have it all back together I cannot seem to get the whole distributor back in. I have the engine already set for the firing of cylinder one and have marked my cap for the drive gear to fall into the oil pump but cannot get it to falll into place. I have been working on this for about a week or so in my shop class and have to stop myself everyday because I get so angry that I feel like I'm going to break something. Anyone got anything to help.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,665
Likes: 60
From: Buffalo New York
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Palatine Illinois
You know i brought that up with one of the guys in my class but its an idea that scares me cause i dont want to shred the drive gears, but i think its something i might try now that someone else has brought it up.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,064
Likes: 142
From: Bornem
I used the method as explained in the book "How-Rebuild-Your-Small-Block-Chevy" http://www.amazon.com/How-Rebuild-Yo.../dp/1557880298. Very well explained, including how to orient the slot in the pump , how to orient the distributor to have correct clearance for vacuum and correct timing etc.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 58,061
Likes: 7,147
Army
The 13 tooth helical gear on the distributor engages the cam gear before the dizzy is all the way in the slot so timing is not disturbed as the housing drops into place.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 11,310
Likes: 2,160
From: Bowling Green, Kentucky
When you removed the distributor from the car for repair, did you also remove the drive gear?? If so, make certain that this gear is reinstalled correctly....and not upside down I have seen/heard folks who reversed the gear, and it causes the problem you mentioned.
Also, if you have a factory cam, the dimple in the distributor gear should also point in the direction of the rotor tip.
Checkout BOTH items I mentioned if the gear was removed. If the gear was not removed, then the procedures others have provided above should work for you.
Larry
EDIT: Old thread with similar problem that I mentioned above. http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...+gear+reversed
Also, if you have a factory cam, the dimple in the distributor gear should also point in the direction of the rotor tip.
Checkout BOTH items I mentioned if the gear was removed. If the gear was not removed, then the procedures others have provided above should work for you.
Larry
EDIT: Old thread with similar problem that I mentioned above. http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...+gear+reversed
Last edited by Powershift; Dec 21, 2012 at 11:49 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,263
Likes: 188
From: Wabasha Mn
Just make sure there is no small piece of something that may have lodged down in the hole. I had this happen to me once and had I taken a second look into the hole with my led flashlight I would have saved myself a tear down thinking there was something wrong with my new cam I had just installed. The debris turned out to be the little black plastic TV cable to carb connector that somehow fell into the dist. hole and was not visible until I got really close to the hole and looked straight down.