Hi Guys !

Ok, I had a 1988 TPI, 350 firebird, I removed that engine and got a remanufactuerd 350 from a 70's application. The problem is the distributor from the 1988 won't react the oil pump when I put it in, I know this because if it did reach the oil pump then there would of been only two positions the distributor would of gone completely down, the right way and 180 degrees off, but it slides into the cam gear and sits in every position. Is there some sort of extention I need to buy? Whats going on?

 

If you don't have the oil pump shaft lined up correctly, the distributor will not go all the way down. You may need to use a long screwdriver to turn the oil pump shaft to line up correctly.

 

Is the oil pump drive shaft installed?

 

The oil pump came with it's shaft installed, as far as I know. It has that part that has the noch that looks like it can be turned with a flathead screwdriver. Turning it with a screwdriver doesn't do me any good, becuase it's not that the distributor can't go down all the way, it does go down all the way, however it doesn't make contact with the oil pump when it does sit all the way down. You can feel it lock with the cam, but not with the oil pump.