Distributor swap

[Mechanicmike]

I have a 1988 ford ranger and i've been working on puting a small block 302 in it. The engine i have had the electronic distributor in it and i wanted to put a points style distributor in it so i didn't have to mess with all the wiring. But the shaft that runs the oil pump is shorter. Do they make an adaptor or something for this its about a half an inch shorter then the original. Any suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks
Mechanicmike

 

[MAKG]

You would rather screw with a custom distributor shaft than some wiring? I'd suggest you reconsider that. Electronic ignition is FAR more reliable than points. And you won't have to weaken the spark to keep from burning the points....

And this isn't a 3.0L question. 302s are 5.0Ls.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Duraspark it, if you can put a 302 in a Ranger you can handle that. And it isn't much more if any more wiring than a points distributer. I just durasparked my 2.8 and I used the stock coil on the fender which took a great deal of the wiring out of the picture. I know my '86 2.9L parts truck had the same coil on the fender.

If it is a stock style distributer, order a shaft for the same application as the distributer. If it is aftermarket and you can't find one for it you might call their 1-800 number. Or if you are sure that is what the hangup is (the distributor will seat ok without the oil pump shaft in it) maybe you could cut it down?

Edit:
I used the following diagram when I did mine, but I used a plain Duraspark system, not the II. I grabbed the harness off of a 1980 400, and the Duraspark box off of a 80's F150 at a junkyard. Everything else was new/rebuilt and not really relevant to your setup since mine was on a V-6.

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/DurasparkII.html

 

[shadetree]

I saw a couple of guys put a Mallory dist in a 302 where the shaft was too short. They bought a long hex wrench with the t-handle and cut it to fit. I would never do this, but the damn thing ran fine. It was going in a stock engine, so it might work ok, but I don't know for how long. I also don't know how it would work at high rpm. Depends on the material the wrench is made of. shady

 

[Mac]

85_Ranger4x4 has got it right, there are two different lenghts of oil pump drive shafts, depending on application. Get the one for what ever you deside to run.
Dave