Lima 2.0L - What is the Distro drive gear called (in motor)? Need to replace

[inthebay]

Hey all,

I've blown my distributor for the second time and the drive gear on the inside of the block is ganked (along with the one on the distro, of course). Does anyone know what this part is called or where to find it? It's synced with the timing belt to a shaft in the block on the lower right. I need to re-and-re it but have not been able to find any info on it. Thank you!! Truck is down until I find a replacement.

 

[Mark_88]

Auxiliary shaft -0- distributor drive gear is what I've always heard it called.

You are the third person in the last few months that I've seen this problem...Gunfudan has an 87 also and he ended up having a rebuild done on his....another one recently that was still working on it last I heard...

I did a quick search and found this...as well as one on this site about an oiling mod...here is the link but it is an old thread...you will probably find something worthwhile...I didn't read through it but I will in a second...
http://www.4m.net/archive/index.php/t-297646.html

 

[inthebay]

Thanks for the help!!!

Mark_88

For future people that have this issue:

This is apparently a common failure for these motors. Esslinger Racing has a replacement billet shaft with a replaceable gear.

CLICK ME for Esslinger Racing's shaft


This comes with a distributor gear as well, so if you chunked your gear but your dizzy is okay then you will just have to drive out the pin and replace the gear with their included bronze gear.

To remove the shaft, remove your alternator, distributor cap, rotor, distributor, and alternator bracket. Remove the top rad hose and the top heater hose from the thermostat housing. Remove the thermostat housing in order to be able to get at the timing belt cover bolt. Remove the timing belt covers.

Used a 17mm socket to crack the aux shaft pulley bolt from the aux shaft before removing the timing belt tensioner. If you cant get it off with just the force of the drivetrain holding it back, use a long screwdriver in the holes of the aux shaft pulley.

With the tensioner removed and the belt removed, remove the (now loose) aux shaft drive bolt and the drive pulley.

Remove the fuel pump (careful if there's pressure still in the system). Then remove the three bolts holding the aux shaft seal cover onto the motor. You can now pull the aux shaft from the block.

It it advised that you also drop the oil pan and clean out any chunks that may be remaining in the engine after this service.

Good luck future Lima owners!

 

[Mark_88]

Thanks for the information...I wasn't aware that this could be pulled with the engine in the truck...mostly because I've never done it...but I also read that part of the failure may be due to the bearing being worn and that should be replaced when the shaft is replaced.

I Think if you can drop the pan by jacking the engine slightly you might be able to access the bearing to replace it...just getting the oil pan gasket set afterwards might be the tricky part...