chevy 350 distributer won't drop in

Help! having a hard time getting my hei distributer dropping in and engaging oil pump and gear. Had the engine at top dead center, then jogged around by hand to try to get a drop in. tried three different distributers, any tips here? we are bamboosled! ~sololobo~

 

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If it will go in almost all the way lacking maybe a 1/4 inch, the oil pump shaft needs to turn. You can bump the motor and it should drop in IF its just the oil pump shaft alignment with the distributor.
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What willys 1 said.


4TTRUK

 

Bring #1 back to TDC (with both #1 int. and ex. rockers 'jiggley'), drop distributor down again with rotor pointing towards left rear carburetor stud. If it doesn't quite drop all the way down, simply pull dist. back out and stick a long, CLEAN screwdriver down into the oil pump tang and rotate it just slightly. May have to do it 3 or 4 times but it will finally drop all the way down. May sound like a little more work than other methods but its foolproof without any "180 degree out" drama and the engine should start up very quickly.

 

DeJavu...

 

Times Three on that. Fast's way of doing it.

 

Yup!

 

I used to do the "crank the engine until it drops in" deal, until a very good friend, and engine builder, told me that sometimes this can result in binding and breaking the pump drive.
I don't like to take un-necessary chances. So what I do now, is to turn the rotor then drop it in. Until it finally seats. Then pull it up about 1/2 inch, and drop it down again. As it is being pulled up it turns the oil pump drive a little, so the next time you drop it in, it drops in one tooth off from the last time. I just "walk" the drive around, with this method, until the rotor is pointing in the right direction, and bolt it down.

 

dont bump it to drop it down do it with the screwdriver

 

Did you take the gear off the distributor? Is it on correctly?

 

There are different length distrubitor to oil pump shafts.

 

if you are using a chevy11 oil pump and pan it takes a shorter oil pump shaft

 

I've never had one that flat refused to drop in but I've had a few that tried my patience more than others.

I usually just bump the engine over and let the distributor drop but have done like Chaopolds said in post #8 and worked it around one tooth at a time. I've also done the screw driver thing and that usually is the simple way. It's damned seldom a guy gets one to drop right in first try though.

Sololobo, there isn't a burr or something in the hole in the manifold that is holding the distributor up is there? Three distributors tried and no go tells me that something isn't right somewhere besides the usual h***le of getting the distributor to drop.

 

If you used silicone for the rear gasket sometimes it will run over to the inside and you have to trim it through the distributor hole for the dist. to fall down.

 

the screwdriver idea is the one I've gotten to work in the past.

 

I use the screwdriver method.

if you bump it then you have to start over and reattain TDC

 

well, this adventure is over. An intake manifold bolt had found its way down the dist. hole. After much frustration and everyone taking turns hoping to have the magic touch , tech advisor Terry cried foul. Rob Lee sacrificied his head to work into the space under the firewall with good lighting and spy an unknown object down the hole. He extracted the bolt and the dizzy dropped in like it should. Many thanks for all the helpful hints on the project. You guys rock and my S.O.T. bro's are the real deal. Forward with the project!! ~sololobo~