Notices
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Dentsides Ford Truck
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: Moser

Issues with distributor installation.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 25, 2010 | 06:14 PM
  #1  
southernboy0122's Avatar
southernboy0122
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
From: Goldsboro Nc
Issues with distributor installation.

got a 78 ford with a 351m. having trouble getting the distributor back in. its getting hung up on the oil pump shaft. any tricks to getting it to seat. the shaft wont stay in the middle, it likes leans to a side. thanks
 
Reply
Old Nov 25, 2010 | 06:16 PM
  #2  
71 Sport Custom's Avatar
71 Sport Custom
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 455
Likes: 0
Jack up that side of the truck !!!
 
Reply
Old Nov 25, 2010 | 07:32 PM
  #3  
bigdaddys76's Avatar
bigdaddys76
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 373
Likes: 0
From: Chesapeake Va.
pack some wheel bearing grease down there to center it up
its safe the grease will get hot and blend in with your oil
 
Reply
Old Nov 26, 2010 | 07:30 AM
  #4  
jim collins's Avatar
jim collins
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,038
Likes: 4
From: South west Idaho
Club FTE Silver Member

Place it in position and with your hand pressing down on it lightly ,have somebody turn the key in to start position and just bump it. Works good,i have done it probably 100 times though out the years. I actually have a remote starter switch i can use by myself as i stand in front of it. Be sure to have it in park and or hand brake set,don't want to run over yourself. I remove the coil wire from the dist. and coil when i do it.
 
Reply
Old Nov 26, 2010 | 08:26 AM
  #5  
southernboy0122's Avatar
southernboy0122
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
From: Goldsboro Nc
ok im going to try it out. ill let you know if it works. thanks
 
Reply
Old Nov 26, 2010 | 04:12 PM
  #6  
southernboy0122's Avatar
southernboy0122
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
From: Goldsboro Nc
well it ended up being the oil pump shaft came out of the oil pump, had to pull the pan to find out. now i put it on tdc on number one cylinder set the distributor and turn the key. boom! sounded like a 12ga shotgun went off. cant get the distributor timed rite any suggestions or tips to getting it timed?
 
Reply
Old Nov 26, 2010 | 04:41 PM
  #7  
71 Sport Custom's Avatar
71 Sport Custom
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 455
Likes: 0
Sounds like the dizzy is 180 out. Might be on TDC on exhaust stroke.
 
Reply
Old Nov 26, 2010 | 04:51 PM
  #8  
jim collins's Avatar
jim collins
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,038
Likes: 4
From: South west Idaho
Club FTE Silver Member

Yep, I agree with the 180 timing being off. Keep at it,you'l get it. When you hold your hand on the top of the dizzy you will feel it drop in,don't have to turn it much. good luck. JIM
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-2

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
story-6

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

 Brett Foote
story-9

5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

 Joe Kucinski
Old Nov 26, 2010 | 07:13 PM
  #9  
southernboy0122's Avatar
southernboy0122
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
From: Goldsboro Nc
Would i just turn the crank until im 180 from where i timed it off the dampner , and reinstalled the dizzy with it pointing to number 1?
 
Reply
Old Nov 26, 2010 | 09:37 PM
  #10  
supercabfreak's Avatar
supercabfreak
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 677
Likes: 2
From: High Point NC
1st i know exactly how frustrateing it is when your oil pump drive rod falls in the pan especialy when u have to jack the engine up to drop the pan. second isnt somewhere around 8 degrees before tdc where you want your #1 cylender fireing?
 
Reply
Old Nov 26, 2010 | 10:06 PM
  #11  
southernboy0122's Avatar
southernboy0122
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
From: Goldsboro Nc
i hear ya on the pump shaft rod. i cant even get it started to adjust the timing. all it does is backfire and make shotgun blast out the tailpipe. i took the valve cover off and watch the valves. I felt the air compress came up to 0 degrees on my timing marks, set the dizzy to number one. No start, its so frustrating.
 
Reply
Old Nov 27, 2010 | 12:41 PM
  #12  
southernboy0122's Avatar
southernboy0122
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
From: Goldsboro Nc
here's an update got my timing down. It was 180 degrees off like you guys said. the only thing that sucks is i think i blown my head gasket, what looks to be antifreeze coming out of number 5 cylinder in the front part next to the water pump. so this sucks
 
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:54 PM.

story-0
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-1
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-2
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-3
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-5
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-6
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

Slideshow: 10 most surprising Ford truck options/features in 2026.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:17:22


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

Slideshow: Here are the top 10 Fords coming to Mecum Indy 2026.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:49:49


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 worst Ford truck wheels of all time

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:49:01


VIEW MORE