I pulled my distributor for some cleaning and maintenance (76 L48 stock). I carefully marked the position before and after removal. When I went to reinstall it would only drop in fully with it seemingly slightly in a more clockwise direction. I understand that the bottom of the distributor has that pin that goes into the slot down in the hole in the motor so it can only go in one way (or 180 deg off). And I under stand the gear must engage. But no matter what I did I could not get it to go back to the position it was before I pulled it. So,,, after fooling with it for a while I found I could take a long screwdriver and turn the "slot" down in the hole through the intake. I didn't actually think that would turn but it did. By turning is slightly I got my distributor to go to the position it was at the begining.
So, my question is did I screw something up? And what exactly does that slot that the distributor goes into, do (sorry, don't know the proper term)? I thought that was connected to the cam shaft somehow and would only turn with the motor. So I was suprised it turned. I had not moved (turned over or any other way disturbed) the motor, so I thought the distributor would drop back in the way it came out.
Any input would be appreciated. I am a little worried about starting the motor now. Thanks

 

Not to worry. That is the oil pump driveshaft. It's positiion is not important, only that you may need to rotate it like you did to let the distributor set right.

 

Absolutely correct!

 

You probably were off by only one tooth on the dist gear. You have to kind of rotate it counter clockwise farther than you think to get it back in the original position.

 

these guys are right on target...that distributor will go in and function in any position....the wires would just be all goofy.....being 180* out refers to lining up on TDC of the exhaust stroke instead of the compression stroke so you are 180* out of sync

 

Also for furture reference, if you ever tear into the engine or have hasdi it sit for a while, you can prime the oiling system byt using a simple tool that fits into the distributor sharft hole and allows you to spin the oil poump with out turning over the moter, you can get the oil pressure up , the turn the motor over with a wrench at the crank , and repeat the process, this will get oils all through the motor asn is good for new break ins, as well as long sits \\\

tim