| |
Click on image for the lowdown. 
====
| | | Forums66 Topics128,035 Posts1,055,566 Members48,426 | | Most Online14,466 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!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
| | THANKS!
For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down with Ads! Again, thanks! | | | | Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 872 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 872 | I am fitting my dist. in a 58 235 motor and have it indexed for #1 cylinder. I also have the vacuum advance hooked up (the clamps are on, but the motor is not running.. I am just fitting it in).
Even with grease on the base of the dist housing the fit is very tight... I can move it by hand but then I push on the vacuum advance arm to advance the dist housing it seems like its way to tight... plus it does not return to my '0' mark when I let go of the vacuum advance arm.
It this to tight? How could I loosen it up? | | | | | Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 | Do you have an O ring on it by chance?
See the USA in your vintage Chevrolet! My Blog | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,760 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,760 | "Shoeshine" the part of the housing that fits into the block with a long strip of emery cloth. It shouldn't take much polishing to smooth out any rough spots. Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,636 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,636 | Also make sure that the hole the distributor goes into is clean. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 872 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 872 | There were two groves on the cast housing towards the bottom and there was no o-ring. I painted the dist black, so I guess I'll have to clean that off and hit it with some emery cloth.
So it should have a fairly loose fit... enough so the vacuum advance can move it freely?? | | | | | Joined: Jun 2012 Posts: 1,747 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2012 Posts: 1,747 | The bottom of the housing should be plain metal. No paint, no "O" ring. Yes the vacuum advance needs to move the whole distributor. So it must be a "free running" fit in the block. A bit of work with some emery cloth will make the paint go away. No need to remove any metal just take the paint and any "bumps" off and clean it well. Don't want any abrasive in the motor. Should slip in and turn easy when you are done. Make sure that the oil pump is engaged then set the timing and you are good to go. No gasket here either. Expect it to weep a bit. Then you know it has oil and all is good.
Steve H
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 872 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 872 | | | |
| |
| |