Tough time installing a different distrubitor.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 8,753
Likes: 9
From: Louisiana
Tough time installing a different distrubitor.
I wanted to install a different distubitor and check all components in it to rule out weak spark. I had purchased a distubitor (I.D. #1103879) that came from a 85 vette. I pulled the one out of my 86E (I.D. 1103680) with the rotor pointing at #1 plug and had the IM tested (passed), pick up coil ohmed, plug wires ohmed, and installed a new rotor and cap (due to the terminals being loose on the old one). I noticed a little more play on the old distubitor. Got everyting back together on the 85 distrubitor and started to install. My dad and I worked on installing the bastard for an hour and 20 minutes. The engine was not turned and the only way it would go in was pointing at # 5 plug or at the alternator. After a few cuss words and turning the oil pump shaft 40 times, we decided to try the old distrubitor and it fit the first time at #1 plug. So we just used the old distrubitor and the new parts. What could be different about the two? They looked the same, but the teeth must have been at a different orintation??
Let me know if anyone can help with this one...
Let me know if anyone can help with this one...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 15
From: backwoods upstate ny
the distrib gear has an odd number of teeth ( 13 iirc) and can be rotated 180* to align if req'd....but the roll pin holes for gear/shaft appear to be randomly located in manufcture anyway.
spiral cut of the gear makes the shaft turn as you drop the dist in as i'm sure you have noticed...the distrib rarely hits the oil pump drive right to let the distrib drop in that last 1/4'' drop, even multiple attempts.
i just drop the distrib in where ''i'' want it to point, allowing for that last 1/4'' drop, crank the engine over once, maybe twice, and the distrib makes a small ''thunk'' as it seats on the manifold....bump the engine back to #1 TDC and make sure #1 on the cap is where it should be.
spiral cut of the gear makes the shaft turn as you drop the dist in as i'm sure you have noticed...the distrib rarely hits the oil pump drive right to let the distrib drop in that last 1/4'' drop, even multiple attempts.
i just drop the distrib in where ''i'' want it to point, allowing for that last 1/4'' drop, crank the engine over once, maybe twice, and the distrib makes a small ''thunk'' as it seats on the manifold....bump the engine back to #1 TDC and make sure #1 on the cap is where it should be.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 8,753
Likes: 9
From: Louisiana
Originally Posted by rick lambert
very wierd, I thought 84-86 were the same, and 87-91 were the same, just how the cap attached.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,146
Likes: 3
From: The Motor City
The gear has 13 teeth and a drill/index mark above the roll pin. Did both distributers have that drill mark in the same location as: ie. either under the rotor pointer, or oppositte to the pointer. If both were different, then you would have needed to twist the distributer body more to get it to fire. Provided of course everything was right with the new one.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 8,753
Likes: 9
From: Louisiana
Originally Posted by mseven
The gear has 13 teeth and a drill/index mark above the roll pin. Did both distributers have that drill mark in the same location as: ie. either under the rotor pointer, or oppositte to the pointer. If both were different, then you would have needed to twist the distributer body more to get it to fire. Provided of course everything was right with the new one.
. As for the drill mark, I would have to take a second look at them. I did notice on the oil pump slot, at the bottom of the gears, one was more tapered that the other but shouldn't have made a difference.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,146
Likes: 3
From: The Motor City
Originally Posted by RRT vette
Yes, they both had 13 teeth . As for the drill mark, I would have to take a second look at them. I did notice on the oil pump slot, at the bottom of the gears, one was more tapered that the other but shouldn't have made a difference.
. As for the drill mark, I would have to take a second look at them. I did notice on the oil pump slot, at the bottom of the gears, one was more tapered that the other but shouldn't have made a difference.Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 8,753
Likes: 9
From: Louisiana
When installing the 85 distubitor I tried everything, turning the body and trying different degrees all the way around. Seemed like the more I tried each different way I turned it, it would sit in a different gear everytime I turned it except sit at #1 cylinder, if that makes sense. The old distrubitor had a mark on the intake manifold and the base of the distubitor where it seats. Tried everything for about 1 hr 20 min. We looked at both over and over and saw no differences.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 9,036
Likes: 13
From: Edmonton AB
On an OEM gear ('89), the roll pin hole is in alignment
with the root of the adjacent gear teeth on the dimple side.
It aligns with the peak of a tooth on the side opposite the
dimple.
I'm not sure this haf-tooth difference would be enough to
make the unit difficult to install.
.
with the root of the adjacent gear teeth on the dimple side.
It aligns with the peak of a tooth on the side opposite the
dimple.
I'm not sure this haf-tooth difference would be enough to
make the unit difficult to install.
.