Distributor madness......

[rangerin]

I took my distributor out earlier today and I'm having a frickin hard time getting it back in. I'm having trouble because the oil pump shaft wont stay straight so I can get the dizzy all the way into the block. Any suggestions? I wanna speak a few choice words to whomever decided to put the dizzy up against the firewall.


2.8 v6 BTW.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Been there done that somtimes it takes a few times to get it right. Start with putting the engine at TDC on the compression stroke for number one cylinder
Put your finger in the #1 plug hole and turn the crank with a socket clockwise until you feel compression, then look at the timing marks and put the wide groove marked TC in line with the pointer not the round thing. Now comes te tricky part be sure and lube the o-ring on the dizzy and your goal is the rotor should point about 11 oclock with the dizzy all the way down. As you push the distributor down it will mesh with the cam and spin the rotor. Estimate how far it will turn when fully seated nad using light pressure push down on the distributor as you turn the crank with a socket clockwise when the oil pump lines up the distributor will drop down in place. Then find TDC on the #1 cylinder again and see wher the rotor is pointing it should be at 11 oclock if not carefully lift the distributor up until it clears the cam gears turn it a tooth in the right direction and then go through the process again. #1 plug wire tower is around 11 oclock with the center in its range. It can be a process and yes it is a bitch to get at. I have a special short box end wrench I use to loosen and tighten the lock down bolt. I find it easier getting my hand in there from the drivers side standing on a short step stool.

 

[rangerin]

Thanks man. I've actually done this before, but it's being a real pain this time. Is there a trick to keep the oil pump shaft straight? I can feel the dizzy meshing up with the cam, but it stops at the oil pump shaft which sits off to the side. Took the dizzy out to replace the ignition module and the pickup module, but it doesn't wanna go back together.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

The quickes way is to just crank on the starter to line the oil pump shaft in the distributor shaft. Ideally when you pulled the distributor I just point the rotor at 12 oclock that way you know how to put it back or any referance point for that matter. If you havent turned the crank yet and know where the rotor was pointing before you took it out put it back the same and renove the rotor so you dont break your hand as your cranking the starter lightly press on the distributor when the oil pump shaft lines up it will drop down. Did you take not on the rotor prior to pulling the distributor.

 

[rangerin]

Ok, I found a solution! Throw a jack under the frame just before the LR wheel. That'll make the dizzy shaft more vertical allowing that silly rod to not sit on the side of the shaft. Once I did that, the dizzy was in within 10 minutes.