I'm having to replace the distributor in my 1986 F250 with a 302 because the bearings in the old one are worn out.

I've tried two different new distributors from two different partstyles stores, and both of them won't sit all the way down in the motor like they should. Is this a common issue with aftermarket distributors or am I doing something wrong while installing them.

The new ones sit low enough that I'm pretty sure it's fitting on the shaft that drives the oil pump, but it's still a fraction of an inch higher than it should sit.

 

Are you sure you are all the way down on the oil pump drive shaft?


What about using some pressure pushing the dist down, I know my knew one it popped down the last 1/8" or so with some pressure the O ring was holding it up.

 

X2 on the O-ring being a possible cause of this kind of thing.

 

I'll try it. I was afraid to apply pressure because I didn't want to break a $100 part.

 

If it won't go, take a 1/4" extension and a 5/16 socket and tape them together. Reach down in the dist hole with it and put the socket on the oil pump driveshaft and turn it just a little bit. Also look down in there and make sure the oil pump shaft hasn't fallen out.

 

I had exactly that problem and it was the oil pump shaft. I bumped the starter and the distributor dropped down nicely. The next time I did it I used Jim's plan where I lined the shaft up straight up/down and then did the same with the opening in the distributor. It went in easily.

 

Yeah, that's another thing I've run into, that oil pump shaft. If the distributor won't go in, and you lift it out a little it and then try to push it in but you can hear/feel a solid stop/thunk, then yes, the oil pump shaft isn't aligned correctly....

 

I always use the bump technique. When I moved the dist forward a tooth to get a more neutral position of my vacuum advance can I wasn't lined up with the oil pump shaft and I just tapped the key about five six times then pressed firmly down on the dist and snap the o-ring snapped down into the block.