The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Distributor Installation question

Hi

I'm putting the finishing touches on my rebuilt '54 261 engine. I have put #1 cylinder at TDC by watching the valves and lining up the "BB" on the flywheel with the pointer in the bellhousing.

Then, I attempt to drop the distributor in the hole and align the tang on the distributor with the oil pump drive slot.

Now the problem begins... As soon as the cam gear and distributor gear start to engage, it becomes difficult, if not almost impossible to push the distributor any further into the hole! :mad: :mad: I've even lightly tapped the housing with a hammer to get it to seat, but that just makes it all the more difficult to pull out! :mad: :mad:

When I disassembled this engine, I don't remember this being so tight. In fact, I pulled it out with one hand quite easily.

Does the fact that this is a rebuilt engine with very tight clearances make this much difference?

Yes, I did check the obvious and the cogs on the gears do in fact "mesh" in coordination with each other.

As always, any input is greatly appreciated.
Steve

Steved,

Other people will most likely post more helpful answers but here is one easy suggestion. The oil pump gear/vane (I do not know what it is called) is driven by the bottom of the distributor and it might not be lined-up properly. Take out the distributor and use a long screwdriver to rotate it a little.

Good luck,
Tim

I've already lined up the oil pump drive slot with the distributor, and even rotated the shaft slightly to get it to seat, but it doesn't seem to help. The hang up seems to be where the cam gear and the distributor gear mesh. I don't get it! :mad: :mad: :mad:

Is it a new camshaft? There's a remote possibility the gear is ground wrong! Hope not!
Jerry

Nope, It's the original camshaft, it checked out with very little wear, so they cleaned it up and reinstalled it.

If its the same cam with the same distributor, then check the oil pump. Check for proper part #, and correct installation. Distributor should just drop into place.

chip

Thanks, Chip. I really wanted to hear that! Drain the oil, pull the *&%$#@* pan and check the pump. :mad: :mad:

Anyway, The pump bolted right up so I thought it must be the correct one. Maybe not? Did the '54 261 use a different pump than the the later 261 or the 235's? :confused:

So close, but yet so far......
Steve

Can't say about 261, but 235s used a different oil pump 53-55 than 55-62. Remove pump and test-fit distributor. With pan and pump out of the way, you'll be able to check fit and mesh of distributor and cam gears. Check dist end-play while you're at it. You need at least .020" or so gear end-play between gear and pump casting with dist seated in block.

53Therapy,

Do not force the pump down! Don't run it yet!

Just encountered a like problem where the distributor was real tight going down the hole before the gears and oil pump got properly seated.

Found the top of the new oil pump is machined a few thousands to small and is deflecting to one side enough to cause the mis-alignment when tightened up.

Fix:
Pull the pan and loosen the oil pump lock jam nut and bolt. Float the oil pump and try the distributor on the hole. It will most likely slide down easily. Remove the distributor and slide a feeler gauge blade on the opposite side of the pump locking bolt. I started around .002, tighten the locking bolt down on the blade and re-try the distributor. Repeat using thicker blades till the distributor slides in slides in easily with the oil pump lock bolt tight.

Cut off the feeler gauge and blade that is now hanging out with sissors or knife.

Thanks for the tips, I'll pull the pan tomorrow and let you know what I find.

OK, here's what I found. I drained the oil and pulled the pan. I loosened the line that leads from the pump to the main oil gallery. When I loosened that line, my son was able to drop the distributor right in.

The solution: I had to back out the adapter that converts the female pipe thread of the pump to the female compression fitting of the oil line. I guess I screwed it in too far when I installed it, and it was pulling the pump out of line when the oil line was tightened.

Live and learn...and learn...and learn...and learn...etc....!!!

Steve

Whoah... Danger danger will robinson!

The oil line shouldn't have an effect on pump position. If the 261 pump mounts like the 235, the pointed lockbolt that retains pump into block should lock pump into place. Is the bolt seated into the pump correctly? How much did you have to back off the oil fitting? Not so much that it'll cause a leak, right?

good luck

chip

The oil line itself is tight, It's the adapter that I had to back off a couple of turns..it was screwed down tight against the pump.

Even when I removed the set bolt that holds the pump to the block, the pump was still deflected enough to cause the distributor to not go in. By backing the adapter off a couple turns, it relieved the tension that was pulling the pump out of alignment, and the distributor dropped right in place!

I hope it doesn't leak, even so, would it be enough to significantly affect oil pressure?

Thanks
Steve