I am doing a duraspark conversion on a 1985 302 that originally had an EEC_IV_TFI distributor. The DSII distributor I ordered is for a 1983 302.

The TFI dist has a longer shaft on it then the DSII dist. The oil pump hex shaft only goes up into the DSII dist shaft about 1/4".
I poured some oil down onto the oil pump shaft then installed the DSII distributor and then pulled the distributor back out. I looked into the end of the shaft where the oil pump shaft goes and the oil marks were only in 1/4".
Also when trying to get the distributor back in the 3rd time, the oil pump shaft had moved and was no longer lined up. At that point the distributor only lacked abut 1/4" being seated down all the way. I used a long extension with a 1/4 socket on it to turn the oil pump shaft so that it would line back up and then installed the new distributor.

Is a 1/4" enough or does something have to be changed?

here is a pic from another site that shows the two different distributors and their shaft lengths.
<a href="http://s472.photobucket.com/user/Annaleigh_123/media/dist.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i472.photobucket.com/albums/rr88/Annaleigh_123/dist.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo dist.jpg"/></a>

Thanks Anna

 

the truck is a 1985 E-150. while searching around different sites some people say its ok, some say change the oil pump shaft, so I am not sure what to do at this point..

 

I'm not sure of the correct answer, but will bump this a bit so those who domino respond.

Anyway, I've run dizzys that apparently only engaged the oil pump 1/4" with no problems. I say that because the dizzy wouldn't drop the last 1/4" until I aligned the shaft or turned the engine. Again, I don't know if that is the correct answer, but I know it worked.

 

I did the EXACT same thing you did. I have a 1985 F150 with a 5.0/302 that originally came with the EEC-IV engine computer and the TFI ignition. I, too replaced the TFI distributor with a 1983 (Duraspark) distributor. I have been running mine with the Duraspark distributor for almost 10 years now without any problems.

 

Good to know, Fonzie. Much more definitive than my experience. Thanks.

 

I remember doing research on this awhile back, and what most people do(put the old style dist into the TFI engine) works. I am trying to remember, it think it was putting the newer style TFI into a older style engine setup didn't work, but no one ever really does that.

 

Thanks for the replies guys..
I want to double check just how far up in the distributor shaft the oil pump shaft is going. What do you think of the idea of using a piece of a tightly rolled up cotton ball soaked in oil and pushing it up inside the distributor shaft, then setting the distributor in place, then removing it? That should push the cotton ball up the exact amount that the shaft goes inside. Once I pull the distributor back out I can use something and pull the cotton ball back out.

My plan is that hopefully the oil pump shaft will work as is. I want to finish up the ignition swap and test it out with the feed back carb still on to make sure the wiring is correct and go from there. I also may be changing out the timing gears. With the timing cover off, is it possible at all to get the oil pump shaft out of the engine with the timing cover and gears off of the engine?

I did some research on parts and came up with this.
There is apparently 3 different 1/4" shafts used for Fords throughout the years. There is very close to a 1/2 difference between each shaft. One of them should work even if you had to grind a little off of one of them.
This information came from RA and Oreilly’s and KaKaPart

Intermediate Drive Shaft
Melling Part # IS60
FORD PN B8AZ-6A618-A
FORD PN B8A-6627-A1
ELGIN PN IS-60
Length (In): 8.53 Inch
Shaft Diameter (In): 0.250 Inch
Fits various engines from 1958 to 1976
332, 352, 360, 390, 406, 427, 428
-
Intermediate Drive Shaft
Melling Part # IS42
FORD PN B9A-6A618-A
FORD PN C1AE-6A618-A
ELGIN PN IS42
Length (In): 8.06 Inch
Shaft Diameter (In): 0.250 Inch
Fits various engines from 1955 to 1964
272, 292, 312,
-
Intermediate Drive Shaft
Melling Part # IS68
FORD PN D8AZ-6A618-A
FORD PN c2oz6a618a
Length (In): 7.44 Inch
Shaft Diameter (In): 0.250 Inch
Fits various engines from 1962 to 2001
289, 255, 260, 302

 

I think the cotton ball may work, although if you have too much it may squeeze and then expand when you pull the distributor.

On the shafts you found, the first one is for the FE series engines. The second for the Y-block engines, and only the third one for the Windsors.

 

According to RA their part is: FORD E-150 (1975 - 1996)
1985 FORD E-150 5.0L 302cid V8 : Engine : Oil Pump Shaft
MELLING Part # IS68
Length (In): 7.44 Inch

If I bought the Melling Part # IS42
Length (In): 8.06 Inch
The difference in length wold be 31⁄50
That is just a little over a 1/2“ longer meaning the oil pump shaft would have to fit up inside the distributor shaft just a little over 3/4“. I will have to check and see just how far up in the distributor shaft the oil pump shaft can go. I read somewhere that the oil pump shaft is at a slight angle so perhaps a 1/2“ in would work well. That means if a person cut a 1/4” off the IS42, it should work fine.

This engine sat for some time and there was seepage in some places around the oil pan. When i had the van up on stands we were able to snug all the oil pan bolts up about a 1/4 turn. We have not driven the van enough to find out if it is still seeping or not. But if we wind up changing the oil pan gasket, I believe the IS42 oil pump shaft, cut down a 1/4“ would work.
What do you think?

The front seal is also seeping out oil and I wold guess the timing chain and gears are worn at 144K. That is one reason I ask if anyone has ever heard of being able to change the oil pump shaft if the timing cover was off.
I really don’t want to change the oil pan gasket right now if at all possible because if I understand correctly you have to loosen the motor mounts and raise the engine to get the pan off.