Technical 302 Distributor Help

So I installed a new distributor in my 1972 F100 with 302. Before taking my old distributor out I marked where the rotor was pointed on my intake and also where my vacuum advanced was pointed. No matter what I do I CANT get the new one to drop in the same position! Any ideas?

 

When you drop in a new dist. it's going to start down a bit off from your marked diagram and then it'll turn slightly to go with the spiral cut gear teeth on cam and dist. Start out most anywhere and see which way the dist. turns, then lift back up and turn dist rotor till you are in a proper spot for it to spiral down to where you want it.
If you haven't turned the oil pump shaft it all should then fall right back into place.

 

If you're expecting the replacement to drop in and line up EXACTLY how the old one did, it almost surely won't. The gear is pinned to the shaft, and slight variations in how it's installed and how the gear/hex drive for the pump relate to each other means you'll probably get close at best. You'll just have to get it as close as you can then retime the motor.

 

As you pull one out,the oil pump drive turns with the old distributor as the gears move out of mesh!You may luck out by turning the new distributor in an advanced position as you drop it back in,it may drop in close to your old marks! I usually have to turn the oil pump drive shaft a little in order to get it lined up! ROY.