I am fixing to change the o-ring on the distributor for a 1992 Chevy camaro v6. I have read a a lot about also putting in a SBC gasket for extra leak protection. Yet I have also read some opinions that the extra space the gasket takes up can cause the gears of the distributor to not seat correctly and cause wear and bigger problems down the road. Most the the posts about using the gasket are quite old, say in 2005 or such and was wondering what is everyone experience/opinions are now that time has given those repairs time to prove or disprove themselves. Thanks for the help in advance.

 

I have not done this mod, but I know what you are talking about. What I can tell you is to look at the location of the wear pattern on the distributor gear. A SBC distributor gasket should measure about .060" thick (a nickel is close), so adding that gasket will raise the distributor by that amount. As long as the gear mesh pattern is not at the very bottom of the gear, then I see no problem with the gear alignment becoming a problem.

 

Just replace the O-ring first. It’s a pretty quick and easy repair. See if it makes all the difference, or enough difference.

If not, you can experiment with the extra SBC gasket later.

Remember too, while the distributor is a prime culprit, on an old motor, the distributor is not likely the ONLY culprit. So, you might be still needing that drip pan in your parking space even if you do double-wrap your shaft.

 

In case you forget, before you pull that distributor, get out your sharpie, and mark every wire, and every cap-terminal, and take a picture of the position of the rotor. Best to move the balancer to TDC position for the rotor-pic. Save yourself the headache.

Even if your distributor seems to be working fine but for the leak, be prepared to be confronted with something that looks like this when you fetch it out of there. This was mine. Still working when pulled.

 

Thank you for the quick replies. Good advice and direction. Hopefully this is the main leak and not also the lower intake gasket (which i hear is common as well), but i do know its not the rear main seal as we just had the clutch done and had the flywheel off.

 

Wow can't believe that dizzy was still working looks like it spent a couple years at the bottom of a lake.

 

Did this mod to my '91 base Firebird V6...never leaked oil from the distributor and no running problems.