331-354 Hemi intermediate shaft for LA dist

Ok, so you want to run an LA distributor in your 331 or 354 and your on a budget...
When we measure the difference in the distributor shaft lengths we find that the LA is between .25" and .3" shorter than the Hemi dizzy shaft. We'll work with the .3" number.



So then we look at the intermediate shaft for the 331-354 (bottom) and compare it to the 392 shaft (top) and, Hey! there is .3" difference between the two. Hhhmmmm... What if we removed the pin and just pressed the shaft into the gear farther so that the shafts were the same length?


Press out the pin


Use a drift to remove the shaft from the gear so we can give them a good cleaning


Cleaned, lightly polished, and ready for assembly


Not a great pic, sorry 'bout that...these stock shafts are harder than hell so I ground a small flat where the new pin hole will be to make it easier to drill through


Oops, the flats are on the side, I did rotate it before I pressed the shaft into the gear. Note that I used some shaft and bearing retainer


Just to make sure, we check the modified shaft against a stock 331-354 part for shaft length. On the money.


Now the fun part. Drilling through hardened steel is challenging. I like to start with a new drill bit, moderate speed, and lots of cutting fluid. It requires more than normal force on the hand wheel, but be cautious, if you break the drill bit off in the shaft you get to start over, with all new parts.


Back to the parts press to reinstall the pin. Again, lots-o-locktite.


Now we have the top of the shaft flush with the top of the gear (right) compared with a stock part (left) with the shaft down .3".


Reinstall the shaft and gear, drop in the LA distributor, and your set.

A similar process exists for the 392, however, a new shaft is required in addition to a pressed on collar at the top. If there is interest we can do a '92 shaft project.

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Nice tech Gary. You are a rare breed for sure. Most suppliers woulnt dream of putting info like this on a public forum, when thay can sell the part instead. Thanks for passing this information on.

 

Hello..How will the intermediate shaft fit to the oil pump tang now that you have shortened it????
Duane..

 

He's using the longer 392 shaft to make up for the shorter LA distributor shaft.

 

Kick ass!! Thank you Gary!!! I really appreciate you doing this!!

Adding it to the Tech pages!!

 

This totally rocks!!!!!!!!

Now maybe that LA mag I was saving for one of the 318 Polys might actually make it onto that 'ol IND56!

And hell yes - do the 392 project! There's interest!

~Jason

 

Thank you! Great tech!

 

Great tech!

 

BTTT for the afternoon folks!

~Jason

 

Very nice work.

 

Deserves a bump!

 

Hells yeah!

~Jason

 

Bump!

Just read this again. Great tech!

 

good stuff - 73RR - thanks

 

Had the same issue on my Dodge 315 Poly, but I cheated and bought the new shaft from Hot Heads. Was wondering if the shaft running flat up top with the gear was correct, and thanks Gary, mine looks just like your pic, so maybe I did something right for a change!

 

Great info. This is why this site is so great the people here share great tech info. bttt

 

There have been reports of problems with the HH shafts.....

 

I'd do that for my 331 ....but where to find an Intermediate Shaft for a 392?

Looked in HAMB ads, none there... checked eBay...nope

Someone got one layin around?

 

Cool beans! Bump

 

Crap, I can't catch a break anywhere!

 

Well, some reports with the shaft or the 340HV HH modified pumps. Had Kent Redd make me a shaft that works with unaltered 340 HV pump.

 

OK...someone said the BB Chr dizzy fit nicely in the 331/354 block, but then someone pointed out that it turns the wrong way, oops! But....if they're the right length, are they the same diameter so the BB shaft could be used in the LA dizzy?

 

a diffrent way to deal with this problem is do a adter like this



i have dome one of a old oil pump shaft and milled a cut in the end 90 degre across the tab

/Stefan

 

Stefan,

Do you press some kind of sleeve over it at the top to hold it in place?

 

The gear hold it in place and steer up the dissy

 

You need to pay attention, as the hole in the top of the gear is a larger diameter than the lower part where the shaft fits. An adapter made from an old pump shaft may not fit snug in the top of the gear.

 

I was wondering about this myself. Think they are the same diameter.

 

Nobody knows?

 

I'd offer to check but have a full plate right now...perhaps someone could pester GMC Bubba...

.

 

I have a huge box of BB and SB distributors at my dads house, I guess I could drag them down to my place and measure them. Pretty sure (like 98%) they are the same diameter.