Chip, on these engines. the cam rotation pulls the dist down.The distributer shaft must bottom out in pump before the gear grinds metal.The gear must also be located properly as far as the cam gear in concerned. This image is a stock 235 dist, the inch and 11/16 th measurement is reasonably accurate, use your stock one for an accurate comparison.Does your gear look just like this one?You have the mini HEI? which is actually an S10 2.8 modified unit.Carefully check the drive slot in the oil pump, it may be cut to deeply.If the bearings have imbedded debris, a complete disassembly is the only option, sure hope that's not the case,we are all pulling for ya..... Distributer shaft