Distributor issue...

[Litesbane]

I recently bought an '85 4x4 ranger with a 2.8 in it and have had to replace most of the gaskets and rebuild the carb, but in this process I have found that there is nothing to 'lock' the distributor shaft into place. Can someone tell me what is used or what I can do?
All that came out was a single bold with a lock washer on it that does not keep it from turning.

 

[adsm08]

There should be a lock plate on it. It will vaguely resemble a sports cup in shape and goes on the bolt that you mentioned. The previous owner probably lost it and tried to use the lock washer to replace it.

A junk yard will probably be your best bet for finding another one. I don't know if the 2.8 one can be interchanged with a 2.9 plate or not, so a 2.8 is your best bet.