Distributor Not Fully Seating
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,569
Likes: 126
From: San Diego California
Distributor Not Fully Seating
I'm wondering if I bought the correct distributor.
Engine is a '73 L48.
Assembled correctly.
Pump Shaft positioned.
About a half inch from seating.
Any thoughts as to why?
TIA.
Steve
Engine is a '73 L48.
Assembled correctly.
Pump Shaft positioned.
About a half inch from seating.
Any thoughts as to why?
TIA.
Steve
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,379
Likes: 6,390
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Lars
V8FastCars@msn.com
Last edited by lars; Feb 8, 2016 at 01:35 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,226
Likes: 643
From: Orange County Ca
I think the problem is the oil pump shaft. You need to rotate it a little with a screwdriver. It is sometimes takes a lot of trial and error.
There is a controversial way to get the dist. to drop in by bumping the starter once the dist. gear is into the cam gear. The dist. shaft will rotate and drop down when it reaches the correct orientation. Some swear by it and others are totally against it.
There is a controversial way to get the dist. to drop in by bumping the starter once the dist. gear is into the cam gear. The dist. shaft will rotate and drop down when it reaches the correct orientation. Some swear by it and others are totally against it.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,569
Likes: 126
From: San Diego California
You're not getting it correctly engaged with the oil pump drive shaft. E-mail me for my "How to Install Your Distributor" article if you need info.
Lars
V8FastCars@msn.com
Lars
V8FastCars@msn.com
Steve
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,569
Likes: 126
From: San Diego California
[QUOTE=Sayfoo;1591506945]I think the problem is the oil pump shaft. You need to rotate it a little with a screwdriver. It is sometimes takes a lot of trial and error.
There is a controversial way to get the dist. to drop in by bumping the starter once the dist. gear is into the cam gear. The dist. shaft will rotate and drop down when it reaches the correct orientation. Some swear by it and others are totally against it.[/QUOTE
I'll keep tryin Sayfoo. The engine's on a stand, so I can turn it over fairly easily.
Steve
There is a controversial way to get the dist. to drop in by bumping the starter once the dist. gear is into the cam gear. The dist. shaft will rotate and drop down when it reaches the correct orientation. Some swear by it and others are totally against it.[/QUOTE
I'll keep tryin Sayfoo. The engine's on a stand, so I can turn it over fairly easily.
Steve
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,117
Likes: 104
From: charlotte north carolina
If you follow Lars' technique to install and time the distributor, the engine will fire immediately. No more "twist and shout" as you rotate the dissy trying to get the engine to fire.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,569
Likes: 126
From: San Diego California
Got it in.
Followed Lars' tutorial, and tweeked the pump shaft a bit as Jim suggested, and it went. Why this hadn't given me a problem in the past, I don't know. Dumb luck I guess.
Thanks much folks.
Steve
Followed Lars' tutorial, and tweeked the pump shaft a bit as Jim suggested, and it went. Why this hadn't given me a problem in the past, I don't know. Dumb luck I guess.
Thanks much folks.
Steve
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Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
Make sure if the No 1 cylinder is at TDC that the rotor has gone past the No 1 tower on the distributor cap. This will ensure you have some advance in it so starting is easier. 
Last edited by MotorHead; Feb 8, 2016 at 07:05 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,569
Likes: 126
From: San Diego California
Right now, as the rotor sits in the picture, the Timing Mark on the Dampener is at 12 degrees BTDC. Turning that mark to TDC should turn the Distributor Rotor past it's tower (#1), per your suggestion.
Steve
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,569
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From: San Diego California
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,226
Likes: 643
From: Orange County Ca
But, I did have to remove 1 valve cover.
I would try it first with the dist. installed, then remove the cap if necessary, then take it out if necessary. All this only takes a few minutes.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 625
Likes: 119
From: Denver CO
I think the problem is the oil pump shaft. You need to rotate it a little with a screwdriver. It is sometimes takes a lot of trial and error.
There is a controversial way to get the dist. to drop in by bumping the starter once the dist. gear is into the cam gear. The dist. shaft will rotate and drop down when it reaches the correct orientation. Some swear by it and others are totally against it.
There is a controversial way to get the dist. to drop in by bumping the starter once the dist. gear is into the cam gear. The dist. shaft will rotate and drop down when it reaches the correct orientation. Some swear by it and others are totally against it.
Last edited by MSGT-R; Feb 9, 2016 at 02:27 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,569
Likes: 126
From: San Diego California
Sayfoo,
I have one of these levelers.
If I can move the lifting points inward from the outer engine ends, I might be able to leave it in during installation.
It's not a big deal to R&R anymore, now that I've done it. Just sort of a challenge now, to do it with the distributor in place.
It's the spark plugs that will definitely be out when the engine goes in.
How a 454 can fit in there; that's beyond me. I'd love that challenge.
Steve
I have one of these levelers.
If I can move the lifting points inward from the outer engine ends, I might be able to leave it in during installation.
It's not a big deal to R&R anymore, now that I've done it. Just sort of a challenge now, to do it with the distributor in place.
It's the spark plugs that will definitely be out when the engine goes in.How a 454 can fit in there; that's beyond me. I'd love that challenge.
Steve
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,569
Likes: 126
From: San Diego California
Honestly Paul, I'm not sure. I have bought so many things, from so many vendors, that I just can't accurately recall. It might look cool, but the main thing is, IT BETTER HOLD and not slip. I've had an aftermarket hold-down clamp that did, and it had to go in the scrap bin a month later.
I can let you know after a few hundred miles.
Steve
I can let you know after a few hundred miles.
Steve
Race Director
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From: PARADISE
St. Jude Donor '09-'11-'12-'13-'14
Do yourself a big favor and put some duct tape or something over the carb holes in the manifold while you work on the engine.
Dropping a nut or bolt down the intake is not a fun thing to do, nor is pulling the engine apart just after you get it dropped into place in your car.
Dropping a nut or bolt down the intake is not a fun thing to do, nor is pulling the engine apart just after you get it dropped into place in your car.