Distributor Install!! PLEASE HELP!!
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Pine Beach NJ
Distributor Install!! PLEASE HELP!!
I removed my distributor to replace the points with a petronix electronic ignitor system. I've been trying to get the distributor back in for 5 days. I know I need to align the slot and gear up with the oil pump shaft, and have been rotating the pump shaft for days, but it just won't go all the way down. The shaft seems to wobble around a bit but it seems to be straight. I'm wondering if the bushing on the oil pump shaft may be worn. It's been awhile since I've done this so I can't rememeber if the play in the pump shaft is normal or not. I don't want to go through the troulble of dropping the oil pan if I don' t need to. It's a 71' Vette with a 350/270hp. engine.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,428
Likes: 5
From: Japan
Sometimes it's just a battle to get the !!$%**!?? distributor in, but it sounds like you're on the right track. Remember that because of the helical cut on the distributor gear it's going to rotate the shaft 45 degrees on the way down so you want to have the shaft turned backwards that amount before you drop the distributor into the hole. There won't be any bushing wear issues because the hole that the shaft passes through in the block is just that- a hole. Try again, you'll get it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,456
Likes: 102
From: Piedmont Va
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13,'19-'20
My experience is that a small amount of play is normal, and lining up with long screwdriver and playing with it a little it has always dropped in a min or two. Are you sure there are no other obstructions, wiring pinched under the dist flange or something?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 894
Likes: 91
Distributor vs. Oil Pump Shaft
Originally Posted by OriginalOwner
I removed my distributor to replace the points with a petronix electronic ignitor system. I've been trying to get the distributor back in for 5 days. I know I need to align the slot and gear up with the oil pump shaft, and have been rotating the pump shaft for days, but it just won't go all the way down. The shaft seems to wobble around a bit but it seems to be straight. I'm wondering if the bushing on the oil pump shaft may be worn. It's been awhile since I've done this so I can't rememeber if the play in the pump shaft is normal or not. I don't want to go through the troulble of dropping the oil pan if I don' t need to. It's a 71' Vette with a 350/270hp. engine.
"line-up". Get the rotor in "sync" with the correct wire in the cap, lay the assembly in place and "tap" the starter, the distributor will drop down and line itself up on it's own. As long as it's up only the short distance from being in the "shaft" you will already have the teeth engaged on the cam and distributor, this will keep the "phasing" correct. Thanks, Gary in N.Y.
P.S. The "play" down at the oil pump shaft without the distributor in place is normal. This is all assuming you don't have another issue as to preventing it from dropping down.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 95
Likes: 1
From: Davenport FL
I like that "tap the starter" idea.
I used a long screwdriver myself AFTER I screwed around without it for hours. That got it in place in minutes. I don't think I would have ever gotten it to line up on its own. I also think I used a pencil mark where I wanted the slot to line up before I used the screwdriver
http://www.mycarframes.com
I used a long screwdriver myself AFTER I screwed around without it for hours. That got it in place in minutes. I don't think I would have ever gotten it to line up on its own. I also think I used a pencil mark where I wanted the slot to line up before I used the screwdriver
http://www.mycarframes.com
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,847
Likes: 959
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Originally Posted by GOSFAST
Hi "Original", don't pay any attention to getting the oil pump shaft to
"line-up". Get the rotor in "sync" with the correct wire in the cap, lay the assembly in place and "tap" the starter, the distributor will drop down and line itself up on it's own. As long as it's up only the short distance from being in the "shaft" you will already have the teeth engaged on the cam and distributor, this will keep the "phasing" correct. Thanks, Gary in N.Y........
"line-up". Get the rotor in "sync" with the correct wire in the cap, lay the assembly in place and "tap" the starter, the distributor will drop down and line itself up on it's own. As long as it's up only the short distance from being in the "shaft" you will already have the teeth engaged on the cam and distributor, this will keep the "phasing" correct. Thanks, Gary in N.Y........
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Pine Beach NJ
Thanks guys for the responses. I remembered the "tap" trick from years ago, but here's the dilema. When I tried it the distributor would stop rotating at some point and get jammed. I boke 2 distributor gears trying this trick. At about $40 a "pop" I can't afford trying this trick again.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,672
Likes: 1
From: New Cumberland PA
Originally Posted by GOSFAST
Hi "Original", don't pay any attention to getting the oil pump shaft to
"line-up". Get the rotor in "sync" with the correct wire in the cap, lay the assembly in place and "tap" the starter, the distributor will drop down and line itself up on it's own.
"line-up". Get the rotor in "sync" with the correct wire in the cap, lay the assembly in place and "tap" the starter, the distributor will drop down and line itself up on it's own.
P.S. I hear others saying that they spent $xxxx dollars on an engine and do not want to do it this way and will spend (waste) time time trying to align the oil pump shaft. The gears on the distr and cam are 90% engaged and no harm will be done. My time is to valuable to waste in guessing where to the the oil shaft.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
If you broke 2 gears where are the broken pieces?Did you look at the cam gear?The way these guys are telling you is right-something is wrong-that dist should drop right in with a bump of the starter--OK IT IS POSSIBLE to get gear on upside down-I went out to the shop and did it-if you did this it could break a gear,bend the shaft,break dist. housing or all of the above.
Last edited by ...Roger...; Jul 10, 2006 at 01:08 AM.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Pine Beach NJ
I'm to embarassed to say but you were right! I put the gear on upside down-How stupid is that??? Now in the midst of the frustration I forgot to mark #1 on the distributor cap so I need to figure that out. In my day (during the mid 60's and early 70's) I was a good muscle car mechanic. Gettin' old really "sucks" Thanks for the suggestion it caused me to rethink my work and find the problem.
Last edited by OriginalOwner; Jul 12, 2006 at 02:41 PM.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Originally Posted by OriginalOwner
I'm to embarassed to say but you were right! I put the gear on upside down-How stupid is that??? Now in the midst of the frustration I forgot to mark #1 on the distributor cap so I need to figure that out. In my day (during the mid 60's and early 70's) I was a good muscle car mechanic. Gettin' old really "sucks" Thanks for the suggestion it caused me to rethink my work and find the problem.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,130
Likes: 1
From: mesa,az
Originally Posted by OriginalOwner
I'm to embarassed to say but you were right! I put the gear on upside down-How stupid is that??? Now in the midst of the frustration I forgot to mark #1 on the distributor cap so I need to figure that out. In my day (during the mid 60's and early 70's) I was a good muscle car mechanic. Gettin' old really "sucks" Thanks for the suggestion it caused me to rethink my work and find the problem.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Originally Posted by panchop
LOL , don't feel like the Lone Ranger. When I was reading this the first thing that popped in my head was that the gear was upside down. I didn't think that because i had "heard " it could happen. Pretty sure anyone who knows that it won't go on with the gear upside down knows because we have tried it that way.
:o Thank goodness I hadnt even connected the rod to the crank or I might have given up being a mechanic.I checked that poster every day to make sure it was straight!!!!!
---(ps I started a thread in general about the old Gentile posters)
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Pine Beach NJ
She's Running!!!!!!!!!
Distributor dropped in after 2 tries!! Wired everything back up and started her up. Seems to be running like her old-self. Haven't taken her out on the road yet, but think everything is fine. 
Thanks for all the suggestions and help. This forum is GREAT. I was on another one a while back and never got a response to anything I put up. Thanks for the support about the "age" thing. Mistakes like this could make me loose my confidence about my abilities.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Originally Posted by dwncchs
I agree-"getting old sucks" you should see me trying to move the day after being under a dash!