I am having a problem installing my distributor. I am rebuilding a 79 351 windsor using stock parts except for the distributor. It is a Mallory distributor. When I try to install the distributor it gets caught up and won't seat all the way on the engine block. I have it set on TDC while trying the install. Does anyone know how big the distributor gear is supposed to be? The distributor gear and cam gear don't seem to mesh together. Any help is greatly appreciated.
2007-03-04 05:47:16 · 4 answers · asked by dublups22 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Hi,I don't know what kind of cam (guess its stock) you have in there.How about going to your ford store (if they can still find one) get the proper dist gear & trying that.Also your oil pump driveshaft maybe hanging up as that has to engage in the bottom of the distributor.Get a long 1/4 inch extension & a 5/16 socket (taped on ,incase it wants to fall off) & turn your oil pump shaft a bit,then try to install the distributor.Good luck
2007-03-09 13:53:45 · answer #1 · answered by giff01 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You may have a problem with oil pump drive alignment. The distributor gear has a socket at the bottom that must fit over the oil pump drive rod (usually hex). If when you start the installation and the distributor rotor starts to turn as you get near the bottom you probably have already engaged the gears. Since the cam turning would require crankshaft to turn the distributor turns instead (you must compensate for this turning when aligning the timing as the fully seated position of the distributor rotor will be quite a bit different from the position at the initial engagement between distributor drive gear and cam gear).
If the distributor rotor and shaft can be turned by hand when it is in as far as it will go then your probably have the wrong gear on the distributor (it isn't meshing with the cam gear).
If it turns on it own and appears that it will be in good position to be properly timed when fully seated then slowly turn the engine crankshaft while applying light pressure on the distributor shaft. DO NOT do this with the starter as the movement will be too fast and could be dangerous to apply the pressure on the distributor shaft. It should drop almost all the way when oil pump drive rod aligns with distrubutor drive gear socket.
2007-03-12 00:27:16 · answer #2 · answered by C. M. R 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I suspect your not lining up your oil pump rod on the bottom of your distributor rod. That is critical as well. Most small block ford engines used the same distributor. Reach down there and move the oil pump slit to where it looks like it may line up, it may take a few tries but seems that's your conundrum.
2007-03-04 13:53:44 · answer #3 · answered by Kill_Me_Now! 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the gear is right the problem is the oil shaft is not lining up you need to turn oil pump shaft a little and try again sometime it takes a few times to get it right
2007-03-08 21:13:28 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋