You are on to something here. There is oil up under the distributor and I did have to put a new distributor in it. I have a bore scope and can look around a little in there and will do more tomorrow. For now the VC is buttoned back up and all parts and bolts are back in place, no leftovers. Is it possible that it's coming from under the distributor? Could I have some something wrong under there?

 

I can't remember for sure, but I think there should be a gasket for the distributor.

 

It has something, I'm thinking it was an O-ring but something makes me think I'm about to get a refresher course.

 

Start at TDC! lol... I hate reinstalling the distributor...

 

Yes, whatever you do, do not let the crankshaft turn!

What I learned for putting my distributor back in was to use a Sharpie to mark the direction it was pointing. If It goes in at about 30 degrees off, then the top of the oil pump driveshaft is likely rotated too far preventing it from engaging the correct teeth on the camshaft gear. The fix is to take a long flat-blade screw-driver and turn back the oil-pump drive shaft a tad and try to drop it in again. It might take a couple tries.

 

I think I got it and I'm not happy to say that I now have enough experience with the distributor to make it fairly easy. When I did the first one I somehow got the oil pump drive knocked out of position and it took quite a while to get it right. My head won't fit in there and I had to use the bore scope so I could even see the slot and get screwdriver into it. Well...when I swapped the core out for a new distributor at NAPA we just took the new one out of the box and put the old one in the box and I didn't get a gasket. I didn't recall seeing one on the removed unit either. I looked at it during installation and figured that with the location and size of the pieces, it didn't need a gasket. Hey, it's the first distributor I've done since my VW back in the '70's, what can I say?

Anyhow, I use a socket on the alternator bolt to turn the engine to TDC in accordance with the mark on the distributor before removal. I carefully lifted it out of the socket so as to not disturb the oil pump drive and put it back in with the rotor splitting the difference between the TDC marker on the distributor and the screwhole for the cap. I was in shock when it dropped right in and was all lined up the first shot So shocked that I had to climb directly over top and look at it, then from all angles. Such a phenomenon needs to be admired.

 

That's probably the easiest way. When pulling distributors I do mark them down at the block towards the distributor itself. And with a Sharpie the location of the finger towards the distributor case. I do a #1. When you pull it straight out the finger will move the amount that the helicoidal gear meshes impart on the inner shaft of the distributor. Just mark that as position #2 between finger and distributor case.

Even with a new distributor it can fall right in if you position all the parts the same way. Did it on mine too.
An added plus is that this would actually work in any position even when the engine is not on TDC.

Nice you have been that lucky.

Couple of days ago I just made a nice long 10 mm (3/8") rod and milled a screwdriver blade onto it to fit the oilpump of a 1963 Studebaker V8 for priming. Should fit the Blazer as well.