I am finishing up my rebuild and tried to install the dizzy today and it won't go all the way to the block. It is about an 1/8 of inch from it and the o-ring won't seat in the hole. Could my oil pump shaft be too long? it is a FRPP piece!
Distributor won't install all the way??
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strtrcr50
New Member
strtrcr50
New Member
Thanks!! I took a an old dipstick tube and slid it over the pump shaft and tapped the retainer down a little.
Good solution! That sounds a lot less complicated than the solution in the previously mentioned thread!
The engine is on the stand so i will take the pan off and just double check the clearance.
spoulson
Member
I ran into the same exact issue with a Melling HV pump and included driveshaft. The retainer is pressed up the shaft and is conical with concave side upwards. Tapping it down is likely to flip it concave downwards and decrease its effectiveness to retain the shaft. I tried tapping it down with a priming tool, but there's no real verification that I didn't push it down too far that it wouldn't somehow pop out of the oil pump while driving. The real solution should be measuring the clearance needed for the distributor, pulling the pump, adjusting the retainer, then recheck fitment to ensure the distributor fits and shaft doesn't pop out.
The old non-hardened driveshaft I pulled out had a cup-like retainer that gave additional clearance for the distributor. I wish Melling used that design.
The old non-hardened driveshaft I pulled out had a cup-like retainer that gave additional clearance for the distributor. I wish Melling used that design.
I had the same problem on my build up and i was using the same shaft. Turns out the shaft was in backwards.
The retainer on the shaft is a real PITA.
Even when adjusting it to fit the dizzy snug, it seems it still lifts a little when pulling the dizzy back out.
My only concern now is when i go to prime the engine. I may prime the engine while it is out of the car, or, put the retainer higher, prime, tap down the retainer then install dizzy.
IMO, this is the worst design ever!!
Even when adjusting it to fit the dizzy snug, it seems it still lifts a little when pulling the dizzy back out.
My only concern now is when i go to prime the engine. I may prime the engine while it is out of the car, or, put the retainer higher, prime, tap down the retainer then install dizzy.
IMO, this is the worst design ever!!
