OK, so ive read up on old posts that said that our v6's have a problem w/ the dist o-ring. im bettin this is the problem. or do yall think its something else? does anyone know how long this will take? how much 4 the parts?
thanx

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Stock 2.8 MPFI auto w/ Flowmaster 40, More to come......
New Pioneer Head Unit
2x 10" Thruster Subs (blown) powered by 300 Watt Jensen amp
More to come..... (hey, i dont got a job yet)

[This message has been edited by 89V6FBIRD (edited January 30, 2001).]

 

When I pulled the distributer out of my RS,I don't recall seeing a 0-ring.I'm not saying there isn't one I just don't remember seeing it.I do know I have a gasket that seals between the distributer shaft and the engine block that I need to replace.
I had my 2.8 rebuilt last Feb and have had this damn oil leak since early summer.I'm waiting to get a new cam to install so I don't have to pull the distrib twice.

BTW....if anyone has a spare upper and lower plenum laying around and want to get it out of your way please send it my way I want to try some polishing with out removing mine.

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[This message has been edited by Kevin S (edited January 31, 2001).]

 

I looked and found a puddle of oil in back of the intake and under the dis., It took me about 2.5 hours and the o ring was less than a buck, I knew it was not the rear main because it was leaking from up top and getting on my exaust, Kinda embarassing when you have a nice looking car and pull up a a red light next to hot girls and your car is smoking, When I first started my car up in the morning i could look under it and see a stream of oil leaking out

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91 Camaro RS/SS
3.1LTR
Flowmaster Exaust
Hyperchip
K&N Airfilter
Ram Air,Cold Air Induction
Accel Wires,Cap,Rotor,Coil,
Plugs
Low Temp Thermostat
16" 91Z28 Rims, BFGoodrich CompT/A
Pioneer Speakers,Deck
Shift Kit
Power Pullys

 

Yes, there is an o-ring on the distributor. It is pretty easy to change, if you have ever disassembled the distributor before. I think you have to take it apart...
It has been awhile, but the ring was something like $.35, and it took me about 15 minutes to change (mostly taking time to undo that stupid bolt that holds the distributor clamp).

Vman

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1969 Camaro Sport Coupe
383, 700R4, leather, everything black but the lights

Previous owner of an 89 RS Camaro
2.8L V6, 700R4

 

Yeah, there's an o-ring on the distributor. It's on the "shaft" of the housing that sticks into the engine, about an inch or three "up" from the bottom. You don't need to disassemble the distributor to change it. You will have to remove the distributor gear, though. Buy a Haynes manual for the 82-92 Firebird (or Camaro), it will tell you how to remove/install a distributor. You need to make marks so you can re-install the distributor exactly as you pulled it out.

The Haynes book tells you how to remove the drive gear too. Basically you lay the distributor down on a workbench. You use a hammer and punch to drive out the roll pin (looks like a letter "C", but about an inch long) that goes thru the drive gear and shaft. The gear then pulls off the shaft. You'd then roll the old o-ring off the distributor housing (it will probably snap due to age). Then you put a light coat of motor oil on the new o-ring, and roll it up the distributor housing into position.

The O-ring is a "one inch inside diameter" o-ring. Most parts stores have a clear plastic box with an assortment of different o-rings; so in case they dont' have a part #, just tell them you need a one inch inside diameter one.

For craps and giggles, when you have the old o-ring in your hand, bend it backwards. You should see mannnnny little cracks. That's what caused the leak.

I'll tell ya though; with the distributor out, you might want to rebuild it. There's two parts inside; a "pickup coil" and a "spark module". The pickup coil is $15, spark module is $45-60. If you click on "search" at the top right of this webpage, and search this V6 Forum for "module", you can find the info I gave on a hi-performance spark module that Holley sells- it costs the same as a regular spark module.


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

thanx guyz, i knew this board would come in handy.

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Stock 2.8 MPFI auto w/ Flowmaster 40, More to come......
New Pioneer Head Unit
2x 10" Thruster Subs (blown) powered by 300 Watt Jensen amp
More to come..... (hey, i dont got a job yet)

 

Exactly the information I needed also TomP. Thanks alot. I'll be doing this job this weekend on my RS.

 

ok, got back from pep boys. the o ring is 1" Inside Diameter, and 1 1/8" Outside Diameter.
Is this the right one?

 

Sounds good!


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

ok i have an 88 firebird and it leaks i don't know where at and it's not in the car anymore but im rebuilding it at school the guy i bought it from he said it was the rear main seal but i've never heard of such a thing since it's a one piece. how much oil can leak out of the dis. o-ring cause i drove it and when i stoped it would be smoking like a bi*ch from leaking on my exuast and then it would form a puddle after i stoped please help im stummped

bill

 

cool. now all i have to do is do this. bill, i have the same symptoms, ill let u know how it goes.
thanx again

 

The distributor o-ring, when bad, will leak down the back of the block, and drip around the back of the crankshaft. I had removed my flywheel inspection cover once to look for my leak, and yup, the rear of the crank was oily.

My mechanic told me about that o-ring problem later. After changing the o-ring, my car leaks oil no more! However- my leak was never as extreme as yours, Bill. I'd never smell burning oil; and all I'd get on the ground were 4 or 5 drips. With the engine out, your leak wasn't obvious?


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

WOW, that little clamp was a BIOTCH to remove. BUT NO MORE PUDDLE OF OIL in the driveway . they cheated in the haynes manual, they had the engine out. i didn't have to remove the gear assembly, i just cut off the old o-ring and slid on the new one. maybe the v8 you have to disassemble the gears?

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Stock 2.8 MPFI auto w/ Flowmaster 40, More to come......
New Pioneer Head Unit
2x 10" Thruster Subs (blown) powered by 300 Watt Jensen amp
More to come..... (hey, i dont got a job yet)

 

I use a gasket for that o ring. Same gasket as small block chevy.
I also made a stud for the distributor.
I chopped off bolt head, located stud in block, after distributor was in place and then dropped on nut. Have yet to tighten, fully, as I was adjusting for the timing for the 3.4 swap I just did in to my 1985 Forebird.
I call that my 2.8-in-disguise.
I hate that leak!

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

 

Thought I'd let ya know. I tightened the small block chevy distributor gask, down.
NO more leaks.
When I did my 2.8-3.4 swap, I saw that o ring gasket in the rebuild kit.
Is that what that o ring was for?
Use the Small Block Chevy Distributor gasket.
A little film of RTV black on both sides.
Slap it down. I even leave it a bit loose, for adjusting distributor by ear. I test drive this car alot.

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

 

Good find, KED! Thanks for the info!


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!