Distributor installation

[rainman39393]

I just finished installing a new pair of edelbrock cylinder heads on my 302 and am now putting everything back together. The distributor is giving me alot of trouble because I have never done it before. I have read up on it and cant seem to find much. My problem is that when i slide in the distributor It wont go down all the way. The engine is at top dead center and It still stops when there is about a half inch still up. Also when I try to wiggle it around to get it to go down the rod thing and the end of the distributor pops off and falls in the engine. This has happened twice and it is not fun trying to get it out haha.

Does anyone have any tips that could help me out?
And also is there a way to make sure that the rod thing goes all the way down and engages the oil pump?
Im afraid that even if I get the distributor down all the way the rod wont engage the oil pump and if I start it I will damage my engine.
thanks in advance, mike.

 

[iskwezm]

the oil pump drive should have a retainer so it doesnt comeout of the block with the distributor.When you have the distributor down in the hole, try to turn the crank so the cam turns and the gears mesh and it will drop the rest of the way in.

 

[Tim65GT]

IIRC I used a 1/4" socket with a long extension to rotate the oil pump drive shaft just a tad. I taped the socket on to be sure it didn't drop into the oil pan. When you pull it out, work slow to make sure the pump shaft isn't stuck to the socket.

The small retaining clip that was mentioned by Isqwezm works ok maybe once, but if the distributor or shaft has a burr on it, it will grab ahold and not let go until it's almost out, then it drops down. I don't know what happened to the clip. I'll probably find it in the oil pan some day.

I got lucky when I pulled my Accel and it fell back in the right hole. It took a few tries, but eventually got my MSD in ok. I think it's one of the more frustrating things to do on an engine.

The trick Isqwezm mentioned is good too, but ya might have to do it a few times if you have a vacuum canister on the distributor that has to point a certain way.

 

[HistoricMustang]

Yes, get a remote starter button and bump the motor.

This can be a real pain sometimes (just as when taking the darn thing out) but hang in there! Put lots of lube on the distributor gear. Never use a tool or hammer to solve this problem.

HistoricMustang

 

[rainman39393]

thanks for the advice everyone, i'm gonna wait until tomorrow to try it again because i was so aggravated today

 

[iskwezm]

thanks for the advice everyone, i'm gonna wait until tomorrow to try it again because i was so aggravated today

Where do you live???

 

[rainman39393]

irvine, ca

 

[edgars23]

Hey rainman,
How did you get it in? I am having the exact same problem as I am trying to install an MSD distributor in my car right now.

 

[D.Hearne]

The oilpump drive should not have come out with the distributor to start with. reistalling the two together is damn near impossible as you've already found out. Try applying some thick moly grease on the oilpump drive on the end going into the distributor, this will help it stay in place as you drop it down the hole. The problem you're having in getting it all the way down, is it failing to align itself into the oilpump socket. Normally the drive shaft is already in place in the engine and all that's needed is to rotate the drive slightly, you now need to rotate the oilpump socket to match the drive. And once you drop it down into the engine, don't pull it back up, at all (you already know why) Once it's down, bump the starter to try to get it aligned, and hope for the best.

 

[Blu-Steel]

How did you install the oil pump shaft? The reason I ask is that I ran into the same problem when I finally figured out that the shaft is installed from the bottom end when th oil pump is installed. The retaining clip is on the end that the distributor connects to and it's purpose is to keep the shaft from coming out with the distributor.