Distributer won't sit flush - oil pump driveshaft installed incorrectly?

[TheUser]

I put my distributer in and it sits about 1/8" higher than it should and won't go down any farther. I just got the engine back in the car from a rebuild and my assumption is that I somehow botched the oil pump driveshaft install.

I have an ARP oil pump driveshaft and a Ford Racing oil pump; the "star" washer thing was already on the ARP shaft; I put it towards the top of the block and I put the other end in the oil pump. I primed the pump when it was on the stand and it does pump, so I know the driveshaft is inserted into the pump. I have pictures of the install if anyone wants to see them.

What should I do?

If I have to pull the engine back out, I think I'll start by ripping the upper intake off and throwing it through the windshield

 

[stang8urimport]

Very common on Ford V8s. If it won't sit flush, go in and hit the key. Just engauge the starter and let go. The problem is the drive shaft is not fitting into the bottom of the dizzy. Bumping the motor over will rotate the dizzy and cam at the same time, and will engauge the drive shaft.

 

[Busted07]

If what poop says doesnt work, then i would talk to rick91gt about trimming it down a little.. that was his advice to me a while back. but make sure it is completely seated before you do any trimming

 

[Skoobie]

I would deffinitly try the bump method first before you start grinding things. Ive had that problem EVERY time ive taken out my disty. Bump and try again, bump and try again. It will go in.

 

[TheUser]

I bumped a couple of times and it wouldn't go in, so I took a piece of wire and bent it straight. I then inserted it into the distributer hole down to the star washer on the oil pump shaft and measured where the distributer should mount. Comparing it to the distributer, the wire came up short of where the distributer should mount to the block, so I knew my star washer must be a little far up.

Knowing no other way to go about it, I set the distributer in there firmly and pressed to make sure it was seated as far as I could get it. I removed the rotor from the dizzy and proceeded to strike the shaft where the dizzy goes with a rubber mallet. Like a charm, all seems to be well on that end.

The distributer sets flush and the rotor rotates, etc. Certainly not the best way to go about it probably, but I couldn't think of anything else and was a little angry at the moment anyway (one of those "I don't give a siht" moods).

Thanks for the advice. I've never had that happen before and I've stabbed dizzy's quite a few times now. I'll probably attempt bumping it over a few more times next time that happens before I get out the rubber mallet, but I did bump it over two or three times before malletizing it.

Thanks for the help, fella's

 

[jrichker]

I bumped a couple of times and it wouldn't go in, so I took a piece of wire and bent it straight. I then inserted it into the distributer hole down to the star washer on the oil pump shaft and measured where the distributer should mount. Comparing it to the distributer, the wire came up short of where the distributer should mount to the block, so I knew my star washer must be a little far up.

Knowing no other way to go about it, I set the distributer in there firmly and pressed to make sure it was seated as far as I could get it. I removed the rotor from the dizzy and proceeded to strike the shaft where the dizzy goes with a rubber mallet. Like a charm, all seems to be well on that end.

The distributer sets flush and the rotor rotates, etc. Certainly not the best way to go about it probably, but I couldn't think of anything else and was a little angry at the moment anyway (one of those "I don't give a siht" moods).

Thanks for the advice. I've never had that happen before and I've stabbed dizzy's quite a few times now. I'll probably attempt bumping it over a few more times next time that happens before I get out the rubber mallet, but I did bump it over two or three times before malletizing it.

Thanks for the help, fella's

If it is any comfort, I probably would have done the same thing.