I have a question about installing a distributor it will probably be moved to another section and someone MIGHT answer it in like a month. The reason I am going ot try and post it here is I am SUPPOSE to try and start my engine tomorrow and I have people coming over to give me a hand so I need a quick answer. I cant seem to get the distributor to drop all the way, it is about a inch away from sitting on the manifold. I can rotate it and feel the 12 clicks all the way around, it will just not drop anywhere. I have the motor at 16 degrees before tdc which would be having the 0 on the pointer at the 16 on the balancer correct? Is this causing the issue because I have been told for flat tappet cam break-ins you should set the motor with 16 degrees of initial timing to have it fire over easier. If I pick up the distributor by the vacuum advance and rotor the rotor around shouldnt it fall down somewhere in the revolution? Thanks for the help

 

I try and line it up then spin the motor over till it drops then re set TDC and set the timing by eye.

 

First, you have to be sure you have it on the compression stroke. Alien the rotor where you have # 1 plug wire in the cap. I put a mark on the dist housing so I can see it. Pull the dist out and look at the botom and see which way the drive lines up. Use a long screwdriver and turn the oil pump shaft so it will drop it.

 

I turned the oil pump shaft with a long screw driver and have it facing front to back. I tried dropping the distributor in facing that way and it would go and I even tried hold the distributor and rotating the rotor around and it wont drop anywhere. What would make it from not dropping anywhere? Is it having the motor advanced pasted TDC?

 

Some times I think the oil pump rod hangs up on the bottom gear of the dissy try a touch of greese on the bottom of the dissy gear were the oil pump shaft ingauges. And on a side note I put a motor together once for a friend who gave me a bucket of used parts there was two oil pump shafts one stock and the other after market with the steal sleeve so I used the aftermarket part could not get the dissy down pulled the motor back out of the car pulled oil pan found I had used a big block oil pump rod instead of the propper sbc rod.

 

alright well ive giving up for tonight because I have tried to spin the distributor 360 degrees and it wont drop anywhere so it must be the engine position correct? Why would it be a problem to drop the distributor in when the motor is at 16 degrees before TDC? I read somewhere to position the motor at 16 degrees btdc then drop the distributor in and have it face the number one plug wire just like regular so you have the advance already there when trying to start it up. Im confused any help is appreciated.

 

Put the motor on comp stroke and aline your dampner up with 16 deg install your dist if it does not fall all the way down and a line with your #1 cyl. If it does not go all the way down the rotor should be close and just a little counter clock wise from your mark. With a friend or a starter button rotate the motor with the starter as you hold the dissy it sould drop down after this double check it is in the right spot that you wanted.

 

I was thinking about the problem and thought the motor might not be on the compressions stroke but wouldnt the distributor still drop and just be 180 out? What is stopping it from dropping all the way down ? I need to see if it is on the compression stroke and if it is would it just maybe be a slight turn of the motor that will let it drop or something like that? Just dont get why no matter how much I turn the distributor it wont drop at all so it must be engine position. Thanks for the help.

 

As the distributor drops in it has to turn slightly after it contacts the cam gear because the gears are cut at an angle. After that it should drop down some before it contacts the oil pump drive. Yes it's very important that you bring the piston #1 up on the compression stroke to get it in properly but that doesn't sound like it's your problem. It should drop in at any position right or wrong. If you just replaced your cam it may have the wrong size gear.

 

There is only one size gear for the dist drive. When I say spin the motor over I am refering to a couple of revolutons if you are only moving it a 1/4 turn it may not work this also why I sugested to have a second person that can do the key switch and listen to you,or to use a starter button.

 

How did you make out.

 

just put a breaker bar on the balancer bolt and turn the motor over slowly and it'll drop onto the oil pump shaft no problem.

 

Was the distributor taken apart at some point and the gear was put in upside down? If so, the distibutor will not drop down.