With no gear on this unit, poking it in the block, I'm thinking it does stop when hitting the gear on the cam since there is nothing else to stop it. And if the empty shaft is with it, the shaft does not bottom into the oil pump drive slot. This particular engine is standing on the flywheel and oil pan is on so have not dug too far into the issue. The OEM distributor would likely go deeper because of the large chamfer or angle on that bottom area.
So I'm thinking this HEI could end up with the cam gear machining into it if not careful when using it as is. And or the with the drive gear maybe it bottoms out, just don't know yet. Yeah all I need is more projects.
Update, I cut some of the chamfer on the HEI unit, it needs a bit more, I blued the chamfer and put it in and yes it goes in deeper and the cam gear marks the chamfer, the OEM has that clearance for a reason.
Last edited by Truckrolet; 06/20/2026 2:15 AM.
