ok, i've spent an hour trying to get the distributor to drop and no dice. i have alignment marks based on the two screws on the rotor, as well as on the body of the dist. believe it or not, i've even got video of the removal (i've played this game before).
but i can't get the thing to drop. it'll drop all the way in two places but won't go in where it should. it keeps engaging and stopping short of flush with the intake.
HELP!!!

gkopeck,

I've gotten stuck on this one a few times myself. I believe you need to look down the intake distributor hole and look at the oil pump drive slot alignment. You may need to turn the drive with a long slotted screwdriver to get the proper alignment. after a few tries, it should drop right down.

Good luck
Todd Geisler
Malibu Muscle
http://www.qis.net/~tgeisler

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ugh. that won't disturb the timing right? the engine was undisturbed while R&R the intake manifold.
thanks
gregg

[This message has been edited by gkopeck (edited 07-22-99).]

Will not affect timing. I have tried many times to remove a distributor then restab without touching anything and always had to turn the oil pump drive back slightly to get the distributor to go back in.

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Steve Strasemeier (70SS 396, Fathom Blue/White Stripes)

If you are sure that you have the dist. in right, just turn the motor over with the starter. The dist. shaft will fall into the oil pump slot, no problem.

so if i bump the starter and i miss it i've lost my timing marks...

yes, if you miss it you have altered your engines' original timing...instead, as has been suggested, use a long screwdriver to adjust the oil pump slot - if it were me, I would not turn over the motor to get the distributor to drop. Good luck!

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70' Malibu - 383 'Dental Gas' Inhaling Stroker! Gold Member #39
Chevellz Alwayz!

Use a very long screwdriver or tie a string to a normal one. I had the embarassment of dropping my screwdriver into the engine while doing this task and had a lot of fun to get it back out.

In my reply, the key words were, IF YOU ARE SURE YOU HAVE IT IN RIGHT, prior to droping it in by turning the motor over with the starter. If you miss it, just go back to TDC, firing stroke on #1 cyl., and restab it, depending on which way you are off, probably not more than 1 tooth on the gears.

(the screwdiver in the distributor hole sounds like one of my typical days)

I'm making my bid for moving the oil pump, but i've gotten some great info on finding TDC and timing which has always scared me.

Thanks all
g