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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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| | | | Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 30 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 30 | I stripped down the engine to do some detailing and now that I'm putting some of the stuff back on I have a concern about the distributor. I thought I remembered the metal tab that has the degree marks sitting flush on the block but when I put the distributor back in it sits about 3/16" above the block. I took pics of the engine before stripping but of course this particular location doesn't have a clear straight on view to confirm my memory. I didn't rotate the crank while apart and it looks like the flat end of the distributor shaft is lining up with the slot at the bottom of the hole and the gears do mesh. So am I losing my memory or is something not right here? | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 |
Is there a chance that the vacuum advance unit is now further up on the distributor post? Did you loosen or remove the vacuum advance unit?
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,708 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,708 | ddalesr3,
Keep in mind that when inserting the distributor, because of the helix of the gears you must 'lead' the final position of that slot you see down in the hole.
As you slip the distributor in, the shaft turns and has to be timed to fit the oil pump slot. If you do this with the cap off you will see the rotor turn as you slide the unit down. Make sense!
Stuart | | | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 388 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 388 | Or, are you sure that the tang on the end of the distributor shaft has slipped into the slot in the oil pump drive shaft? If you hold the distributor housing and slowly rotate the crankshaft the distributor should fall into place when the tang aligns with the slot. Even if the engine was not disturbed, I have found that the tang does does not always slip into the slot. I have inadvertently installed the distributor one tooth off (1/13th of a turn), and the "Engine Disturbed" Distributor Installation instructions from the Shop Manual must be followed. Hoyt | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,760 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,760 | Try turning the oil pump drive with a long screwdriver (just a little) so the drive tang on the distributor drops into the slot as you insert the dizzy. The shaft is sitting on top of the drive instead of meshing with it.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
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