Engine Distributor Shaft

rotorhead22 · Jan 24, 2024

I'm about to start my carb swap on my 89 LX. So I have gathered, or thought so, all of my components to do a swap however after reviewing a recent YouTube video, the guy mentioned the proper "long shaft" distributor. So is this a reference to the aluminum shaft housing or the portion that extends below the gear? My steel gear distributor for a 85 manual car and it has a short shaft beyond the gear. Reference pictures online give mixed results. Can a short shaft be used?

Mcmahst · Jan 24, 2024

I’m not sure I understand your question. A carb swap doesnt require a distributor change. Please explain further and post pics if you can, to illustrate what you’re trying to accomplish. Good luck.

rotorhead22 · Jan 24, 2024

Mcmahst said:
I’m not sure I understand your question. A carb swap doesnt require a distributor change. Please explain further and post pics if you can, to illustrate what you’re trying to accomplish. Good luck.

That would probably help. Old on right. After getting some light into the distributor hole and measuring, it would appear the the engagement onto the oil pump shaft would be 1/2" instead of a full 1".

85GTStangGuy · Jan 24, 2024

Mcmahst said:
A carb swap doesnt require a distributor change.

This.

And beware of YouTube video "experts"!

AeroCoupe · Jan 24, 2024

If he had an EFI distributor I am pretty sure he needed to swap it for a regular distributor unless you guys know how to make an EFI one work with just an MSD box.

rotorhead22 · Jan 24, 2024

AeroCoupe said:
If he had an EFI distributor I am pretty sure he needed to swap it for a regular distributor unless you guys know how to make an EFI one work with just an MSD box.

The EFI distributor can be hacked into how you will loose mechanical advance. I think I’m good with what I have however I will reach out to some local part hoarders

Noobz347 · Jan 25, 2024

This is what I recall:

The EFI distributor gets swapped for a carb distributor
The shaft [length] and [diameter] are different for a carbed distributor and EFI distributor

I know this swap has been done a thousand times on this forum (just not by me ). Checkout @jrichker's post here:

Scroll down to step [21].

Carb 302 Ignition Wiring

I have everything wired up (starter, alternator, ignition). But coming off the positive side ignition coil terminal is a pink wire. Where does this connect to? There also a white, red, and yellow wire that aren't going to anything but coming from the igntion module. Any help?

stangnet.com

Noobz347 · Jan 25, 2024

rotorhead22 said:
The EFI distributor can be hacked into how you will loose mechanical advance. I think I’m good with what I have however I will reach out to some local part hoarders

Can you get your hands on an 85 Mustang distributor? It's already setup for a roller block.

rotorhead22 · Jan 25, 2024

Noobz347 said:
Can you get your hands on an 85 Mustang distributor? It's already setup for a roller block.

That's what I bought however the shaft that extends beyond the gear is about a1/2" shorter that the EFI distributer. It will only engage the oil pump shaft approximately a half inch however I'm beginning to wonder if that's the same on the 85 block also and in that's case I'm good to go.

rotorhead22 · Jan 25, 2024

Noobz347 said:
This is what I recall:

The EFI distributor gets swapped for a carb distributor
The shaft [length] and [diameter] are different for a carbed distributor and EFI distributor

I know this swap has been done a thousand times on this forum (just not by me ). Checkout @jrichker's post here:

Scroll down to step [21].

Carb 302 Ignition Wiring

I have everything wired up (starter, alternator, ignition). But coming off the positive side ignition coil terminal is a pink wire. Where does this connect to? There also a white, red, and yellow wire that aren't going to anything but coming from the igntion module. Any help?

stangnet.com

Thanks for the link, I searched for about a half hour and couldn't get a good description

Noobz347 · Jan 25, 2024

rotorhead22 said:
That's what I bought however the shaft that extends beyond the gear is about a1/2" shorter that the EFI distributer. It will only engage the oil pump shaft approximately a half inch however I'm beginning to wonder if that's the same on the 85 block also and in that's case I'm good to go.

I wish I could be more help man. It seems like this is important. Wait for some of the other guys to come on before you commit to anything.

@TOOLOW91
@Mustang5L5
@2000xp8
@FastDriver
@90sickfox

2000xp8 · Jan 25, 2024

I wish i could help too, but it's been soooooo long since i touched a distributor.
I could make a call later today and ask a friend, carbs swaps were a thing back in the day, but not so much these days.

I'm doing my best not to judge, but is there a reason you are carb swapping an 89? It's a one year run, mass air non airbag car.

Noobz347 · Jan 25, 2024

...and tilt wheel!

limp · Jan 25, 2024

I have my original distributor from my 83 somewhere in my parts hoard... It is a duraspark, but I would be happy to measure it and take some pics of it tomorrow if you think that would help?? Using the original 83 carbed intake on the newer block in my car.
I have the LMR duraspark distributor in it now. It came with the steel gear for my roller cam.....
Let me know....

FastDriver · Jan 25, 2024

No-go from me. I know nothing about carb swaps.

Noobz347 · Jan 25, 2024

limp said:
I have my original distributor from my 83 somewhere in my parts hoard... It is a duraspark, but I would be happy to measure it and take some pics of it tomorrow if you think that would help?? Using the original 83 carbed intake on the newer block in my car.
I have the LMR duraspark distributor in it now. It came with the steel gear for my roller cam.....
Let me know....

Yours is flat-tappet and not a roller. I am concerned that there might be a difference. I know the gear was different but I don't know about the shaft.

limp · Jan 26, 2024

Noobz347 said:
Yours is flat-tappet and not a roller. I am concerned that there might be a difference. I know the gear was different but I don't know about the shaft.

I am not using the original engine. Its a 98 Mountaineer 302...
OK, I see what you mean... If I recall the LMR distributor I am using was no different than the stock one... But I am not going to pull the LMR one out to measure....
Let me see if I still have the EFI distributor that came with the Mountaineer engine... Might have tossed it....I will compare it to the stock 83 one...

AeroCoupe · Jan 26, 2024

I believe you can swap the distributor shaft from the EFI distributor over the the non-EFI distributor. Its a bit of work but the 85 GT distributors are hard to come by.

limp · Jan 26, 2024

AeroCoupe said:
I believe you can swap the distributor shaft from the EFI distributor over the the non-EFI distributor. Its a bit of work but the 85 GT distributors are hard to come by.

AS in a carbed EFI distributor? That would be a one year only unicorn wouldn't it....

AeroCoupe · Jan 26, 2024

Yes. From my understanding the parts store distributors you get for an 85 are all over the place but the body is correct. If you have an EFI distributor you can remove the shaft from it and put it in the parts store 85 unit and have the longer shaft.

Another thing I came across is that the longer shaft in the roller motors was to ease the installation of them on the assembly line. The longer distributor shaft engages the oil pump drive before the distributor gear contacts the cam gear so it makes it easier to install. From that I took it that there is no other benefit.

Engine Distributor Shaft

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lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes

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wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

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Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes

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