I just put in the new 350 and started to install the intake and Dist. I got the oil pump shaft and started to drop it onto the oil pump when it stopped short. I am looking down into the hole and notice that my dist (mallory 8548201) has a male drive and the pump is also a male drive. I look at the shaft and it is set up for a female / dist to male / pump. What has gone wrong?

Any ideas.

 

i have an idea, the oil pump drive shaft installs from the bottom, before the oil pump is installed.

 

So in the grand scheme of this nightmare I am pulling the motor again??

 

This happened to a friend of mines 350. Go to autozone and get one with the metal retainer (if that is not what you have already).
Put it in the end of a drill. Use a bench grinder to slowly grind of some of the sleeve. Spin the drill at the same time you will not have to take much off before it will go through.

 

you wouldn't really need to pull the engine, just raise it enough to get the pan off then remove the pump, install shaft and you're all set. i wouldn't be half assing this job considering the results if a part modified on a grinder fails.

 

We did this 2 years ago and he is very hard on his car with no problems. We took off about 20% of the metal. I would say that the 80% of metal that was left is still stronger than that factory plastic sleeve that came on it.

 

ok it's only a 20% hack job, the other 80% is as good as factory

 

PLEASE PUT IT IN FROM THE BOTTOM!! I built two short blocks last year thanks to the same problem. Forgot the shaft, tried to drop it from the top with some shaving and a bit of force. Long story short, I cracked a small piece off the block and the engine ran for a total of mabey an hour before the fresh bottom end was knockin on heavens door!! Expensive short cut if you ask me! I know this won't happen to everyone, but I thought I would share my story for those of you who want to hear the "what could happen if" part.

 

Up she comes. Its sux and I feel really stupid for doing it but I'm not going to prolong the madness by blowing a brand new motor. It not a bad suggestion and I am really tempted to try it I just don't have the emotional stability to watch 2000.00 go up in smoke because I tryed a short cut.

 

Ok so I driving home and this is driving me nuts. I start thinking what if I take the shaft to a machine shop give them the specs on the diameter and have the bottom of the shaft turned down. Its got a roll pin in it I dont think that really is a part of this equation At some point and time some simililar dumba$$ like myself has figured out how to do this realiably. I know I'm not the only one. Even if it costs me 50.00 I'm still ahead of the game. Right?
Anyone, Anyone

 

Or you could just jack up the engine enough to drop the pan and put it in from the bottom for free.