What distributor to use?

6

67efivert

Member

Jan 26, 2003

348

0

16

lincolnton nc

Dec 1, 2003

#21

• Dec 1, 2003

• #21

makes sence good luck

 

SandSprite

Member

Feb 8, 2003

332

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16

L.A., CA

Dec 1, 2003

#22

• Dec 1, 2003

• #22

I have a 68 distributor in my roller cammed 302 (with steel gear) and a pertronix. Runs fine. When it dies, I think I will go with a Duraspark distributor (I think you need one from an 85 mustang gt -- duraspark and steel gear IIRC) and a GM HEI box. The duraspark box would work too, but the HEI is supposed to be better. You can also use the EFI dist. if you want, but that might end up costing more. check out the stuff on: http://www.gofastforless.com

--Tim

 

D

D.Hearne

New Member

Sep 29, 2000

11,730

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south louisiana

Dec 2, 2003

#23

• Dec 2, 2003

• #23

65fsbkhipo said:

Mark one up for DH...he knows his parts. I pulled this from a known stock block and yep, it matches. And on top of that, the later gear fits snugly on the old shaft...to my surprise. I had to press it on but didn't force it.

EDIT: It still does not fit into the block...it may be a snug fit but I don't feel like forcing it in at this point.

Click to expand...

Sometimes you gotta get rough with the distributor to get it in. Probably the oil drive ain't matching up right.I'm surprised the gear from that hall-eefect fit the older point dist., I thought the shafts were bigger on the newer ones. When you swapped gears, you did get the distance from the body to the gear correct,didn't you?

 

65fsbkhipo

Founding Member

Jul 6, 2001

1,296

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Tampa, FL

Dec 2, 2003

#24

• Dec 2, 2003

• #24

D.Hearne said:

I'm surprised the gear from that hall-eefect fit the older point dist., I thought the shafts were bigger on the newer ones. When you swapped gears, you did get the distance from the body to the gear correct,didn't you?

Click to expand...

I've done a lot of bearing and sleeve replacements on various things, and the snugness of the gear on the shaft is great. I had to use slight pressure using a vise and a long socket to slide it on. The barrel pin was the same size as well. The distance from flange to bottom of gear was four inches. It matches up great. Now, the problem is to get it into the block. I tried the wire wheel brush on the surfaces in case of burrs but didn't help. I'll tackle that again tonight.

I liked the article on the EFI distributor SandSprite sent

 

65fsbkhipo

Founding Member

Jul 6, 2001

1,296

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Tampa, FL

Dec 2, 2003

#25

• Dec 2, 2003

• #25

65fsbkhipo said:

I liked the article on the EFI distributor SandSprite sent

Click to expand...

 

65fsbkhipo

Founding Member

Jul 6, 2001

1,296

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Tampa, FL

Dec 8, 2003

#26

• Dec 8, 2003

• #26

Early distributor IS NOT A DROP IN REPLACEMENT! I have mic'd the distrubutor shafts and have found that the early distributors are 1/16" wider than the 89 EFI distributor. Wont go in unless I modify. Although the distance from the mounting flange and the gear are correct...it won't work.

 

D

D.Hearne

New Member

Sep 29, 2000

11,730

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south louisiana

Dec 8, 2003

#27

• Dec 8, 2003

• #27

65fsbkhipo said:

Early distributor IS NOT A DROP IN REPLACEMENT! I have mic'd the distrubutor shafts and have found that the early distributors are 1/16" wider than the 89 EFI distributor. Wont go in unless I modify. Although the distance from the mounting flange and the gear are correct...it won't work.

Click to expand...

Must be something wrong then, I'm, using one in my 5.0 roller motor. And its a post 89 block.

 

65fsbkhipo

Founding Member

Jul 6, 2001

1,296

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Tampa, FL

Dec 8, 2003

#28

• Dec 8, 2003

• #28

D.Hearne said:

Must be something wrong then, I'm, using one in my 5.0 roller motor. And its a post 89 block.

Click to expand...

The shaft is definitely larger than the 89 shaft. Tried three known distributors. Definitely 1/16" off.

 

D

D.Hearne

New Member

Sep 29, 2000

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south louisiana

Dec 8, 2003

#29

• Dec 8, 2003

• #29

That's weird. I've used two points dist in mine and both fit fine. Where are you measuring this 1/4 difference? I'll check the extras I've got in the shop and see if I can find what you're talking about.

 

65fsbkhipo

Founding Member

Jul 6, 2001

1,296

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Tampa, FL

Dec 10, 2003

#30

• Dec 10, 2003

• #30

D.Hearne said:

That's weird. I've used two points dist in mine and both fit fine. Where are you measuring this 1/4 difference? I'll check the extras I've got in the shop and see if I can find what you're talking about.

Click to expand...

DH

The problem has been recified...seems that the swaps I was using were all Motorcraft distributors. I put in a FoMoCo distributor from a original engine and she slid in pretty as you please. There is definitely a difference between the two. I think the 298/302 blocks have a larger orifice for the distributor than the later blocks. The FoMoCo works in both, the Motorcraft works only in the early blocks.

I'll be cranking up that baby this weekend.

 

D

D.Hearne

New Member

Sep 29, 2000

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south louisiana

Dec 10, 2003

#31

• Dec 10, 2003

• #31

I was just wondering about your problem earlier, and wanted to ask you this: Are you sure that "bigger" dist. is a small block one and not a Cleveland dist? ( afterall, you did try to stick one from an FE motor in there too) The Cleveland dist uses a bigger oilpump drive, its 3/8 instead of the 5/16 one in the 289-302, the dist. shaft is bigger too.

 

65fsbkhipo

Founding Member

Jul 6, 2001

1,296

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Tampa, FL

Dec 10, 2003

#32

• Dec 10, 2003

• #32

I have nothing other than 289 engines in my shop. I have, however, picked up a few distributors from various engines over the years, although most that I tried were 289 peices. I am confident the the Motorcraft are different than the FoMoCo brand. I have one Cleveland distributor...doesn't work either.

 

D

D.Hearne

New Member

Sep 29, 2000

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south louisiana

Dec 10, 2003

#33

• Dec 10, 2003

• #33

I've never compared FoMOCo branded parts to Motorcraft, but they should all be the same. I have heard that some truck distributors having different dimensions from car and pickup parts though

 

65fsbkhipo

Founding Member

Jul 6, 2001

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Tampa, FL

Dec 10, 2003

#34

• Dec 10, 2003

• #34

Definitely a difference. Racked my brain trying to figure out the difference. If I didn't have FoMoCo distributor to compare with, I'd still be cussing you out...