I am restoring a 73 F100 and pulled the distributor out of the 302. Can anyone tell me how high up the oil pump drive shaft is supposed to ride in the distributor housing in the block? As I attempted to reinstall, the distributor only seated to the point where it is about 1/4 inch too high. The bottom of the dist. housing is making contact with the top of the oil pump drive which is against the side of the housing in the block. I can move the oil pump drive around in the block housing and "stick" it where it needs to be with a glob of wheel grease but the distributor housing will only engage the oil pump drive about that same 1/4 inch. I was afraid since the drive shaft is moving around in the block, perhaps it came disengaged from the oil pump when I removed the distributor?

 

Thread moved to the Small Block V8 forum.

 

mine does this, if you turn your crank by hand the distributor should fall in, if not there might be a problem. if it does fall in you will just have to take your time with it where you want it to fall in at.

 

Take a 1/4" drive, 5/16" deep socket and a long extension, tape the two together (to insure the socket stays put while it's in the engine block. Stick it down into the hole and rotate the driveshaft slightly, then retry stabbing the distributor. The shaft fits about a half inch into the oil pump socket, ditto for the distributor shaft.You're not the first to have this problem, it takes time and patience to get it seated again sometimes.

 

Wonder if the oil pump rod is aligned; may be able to do so thru suggestions by members; otherwise, hate to think of the labor intensive alternative. If have not already done so, suggest buying an an oil pump primer, reduces the possibility of damaging engine and comes in handy for oil changes, setting rotor location, etc., and cost around $15.