Hey all,

Just replaced intake manifold gaskets. Trying to replace distributor. I made a mark before removing it, and when re-installing it I can't get it to the mark. There seems to be only one place in the full 360 degree rotation that it'll seat fully, and that is about 20 degrees in advance (clockwise) of my mark.

Any advice here?

 

A little long 13 minutes but will walk through it. pretty simple

 

Thanks for the link. Not really what I'm asking though since I understand the mechanics.

I just can't figure out why I can't seat the distributor in the position in which I removed it. Is this a common thing?

I realise I have to start slightly counter clockwise of where I want it to end to when seated.

Any further advice?

 

Apologies, I missed the part about the oil pump drive. Seems like it'd moved since I removed the distributor. Is that common? Seems weird.

 

Possible. Long flathead screwdriver and then kinda feel around for the slot. When I found the shaft depth I put a piece of tape on my screw driver mark the depth

 

Yeah having to align the oil pump is pretty common. Like newguy said use your distributor to mark the depth of the pump so you don't do what I did the first time I tried this years ago and spend 30 minutes digging around in a hole at the back of your motor wondering why in the hell you can't turn this stupid thing because it can't be that hard right?!? It's also right in the center of the hole and very easy to slip right past it.

 

Thanks for all the replies. And yeah, I spent forever digging around trying to find that DAMNED slot! I even dropped the screwdriver in there to a point where I couldn't grab it back out. Had to drive a self tapping screw into the screwdriver to pull it out. Irony?

Anyway, through what seems like blind luck and a lot of fumbling, I eventually realigned it although I still feel like I never actually 'found' the slot in the shaft. I did try to look down the hole, but couldn't get the angle.

Hopefully anyone who has this same issue witll encounter this thread and not make the same mistakes I did.

Thanks again, all.