I have a 85 ford f-150. It has a rebuilt 302 with about 6000 miles on it. It was given to me and I was told it will not start because the distributor kept backing out. The problem is that they did not install the clamp. Beyond that I found out that there is a shaft that runs from the distributor to the oil pump. Question is when I remove the distributor should I be able to see the shaft because i do not see one? Also, I am supposed to see it and i do not would it have dropped into the oil pan or could it have seized the motor?

 

Oh, Boy... Yes, you should see the oil pump drive shaft when the distributor is removed, and yes, the shaft will fall down into the oil pan if not carefully kept track of. also, yes, lack of lubrication will damage a motor every time!

 

What if the shaft broke while the engine was running?

 

then you were driving aroudn with no oil pressure, that means bye bye engine

 

If the motor seized wouldn't there be some grindings in the oil that I drained?

 

Nope. The easy way to tell that it is seized is to put a socket and breaker bar on the crank pulley bolt and see if you can turn the engine by hand. If you can then it is not seized.