C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Distributor Hight

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 19, 2008 | 10:16 AM
  #1  
mikep3's Avatar
mikep3
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 992
Likes: 56
From: Baldwinsville, NY
Default Distributor Hight

Had trouble with distributor timing after Vortec Head change.
Installed new MSD Street Fire and like the old GM one it dose not go all the way down on the intake manifold. With two gaskets it is about 1/16" high.
Shoud I shim it and is there standard shims for that?
Reply
Old Jul 19, 2008 | 08:51 PM
  #2  
Bob Walker's Avatar
Bob Walker
Instructor
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: Long Jetty NSW
Default

Are you sure you have the distributor shaft and oil pump slot lined up correctly?
Reply
Old Jul 19, 2008 | 09:13 PM
  #3  
mikep3's Avatar
mikep3
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 992
Likes: 56
From: Baldwinsville, NY
Default Distributor Hight

Bob, I found that if you do not engage the pump shaft the distr. gear will not connect and the distributor will be about 1" too high.
I ran the engine for about 60 miles with good oil pressure and checked the distributor and it was about 1/16" too high.
Thanks for the reply.
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2008 | 07:42 PM
  #4  
Bob Walker's Avatar
Bob Walker
Instructor
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: Long Jetty NSW
Default

Hi Mike, you're right, the dizzy will sit up a lot more than 1/16" if it's not engaged properly. Just thought that was a starting point. Are you saying the old dizzy was the same, it too sat up 1/16"?
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2008 | 08:54 PM
  #5  
mikep3's Avatar
mikep3
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 992
Likes: 56
From: Baldwinsville, NY
Default

Yes both the new dizzy and old dizzy did not sit on the intake manifold.

I did not think that new heads and intake would do that. I have some sims coming.

http://www.mr-gasket.com/ProductDeta...minselection=3
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2008 | 09:28 PM
  #6  
pws69's Avatar
pws69
Melting Slicks
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,668
Likes: 43
From: Eastern US XX
Default

Shims are for use when the heads or manifold have been milled. If you are sure that neither have been, then something is wrong and should be fixed.
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2008 | 09:49 PM
  #7  
FB007's Avatar
FB007
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 952
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by mikep3
Had trouble with distributor timing after Vortec Head change.
Installed new MSD Street Fire and like the old GM one it dose not go all the way down on the intake manifold. With two gaskets it is about 1/16" high.
Shoud I shim it and is there standard shims for that?
Add gaskets untill the dizzy does not bottom out. If you clamp it down with a gap, your going to screw up the dizzy, shaft, and oil pump.
Reply
Old Jul 21, 2008 | 11:10 AM
  #8  
jackson's Avatar
jackson
Le Mans Master
 
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
Likes: 630
From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
Default

Originally Posted by mikep3
Had trouble with distributor timing after Vortec Head change.Installed new MSD Street Fire and like the old GM one it dose not go all the way down on the intake manifold. With two gaskets it is about 1/16" high.
Shoud I shim it and is there standard shims for that?
Mike:
I suspect there's an issue with the "vortec" intake manifold's height at distributor boss.

Would you please state brand & part number of "vortec" intake manifold?
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-5

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

 Joe Kucinski
Old Jul 21, 2008 | 11:14 AM
  #9  
Bullshark's Avatar
Bullshark
Melting Slicks
20 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,668
Likes: 119
From: St. Charles Mo
CI 5 & 8 Veteran
Default

Some distributors, like the Accel Dual Sync can be purchased with an adjustable collar for this very reason.
Reply
Old Jul 21, 2008 | 11:56 AM
  #10  
mikep3's Avatar
mikep3
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 992
Likes: 56
From: Baldwinsville, NY
Default

Edelbrock 2116 Performer Vortec Intake with GM 12558060 Vortec Heads, GM 10105117 head gasket.
Reply
Old Jul 21, 2008 | 04:49 PM
  #11  
jackson's Avatar
jackson
Le Mans Master
 
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
Likes: 630
From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
Default

Mike:
Maybe ... maybe ... intake gasket.

vortec intake gaskets widely available either 1/16" or 1/8" thick ... OE GM is a rather thick 1/8". If ... If you used the thinner ones ... seems the intake might sit low ... maybe ... & I dunno what you used. Maybe ... again ... it's manifold itself ... maybe ... dunno?
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Distributor Hight





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:44 PM.

story-0
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-7
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

Slideshow: 10 major Corvette problems from the last 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-14 16:37:05


VIEW MORE