The distributor for my 95 F150 302 RWD AT is shot so I bought a Cardone 2890 to replace it. Problem is it's a little over 1/8 inch too long. Took to Advance to see if the one they sell (Carquest) was the same length as the Cardone and it is. They are both too long. The original one drops right in every time, so I know it's not an alignment issue with the oil pump shaft or whatever that thing in the middle is called.

I went to Ford's website and they no longer sell the oem part F2TE-12127-AA (E9TE-12131-BA). Every place I look up the distributor online it says I need a 84-2890. But that is too long. The amount of difference in overall length is how much it's sticking out at top (take away that extra length and it looks like it will seat fine).

I've dropped in the original about 5 times and every time it slides right in, even if I put it in at different rotatons. That's why I'm convinced the aftermarket ones are just too long.

Rock Auto has an OEM refurbished (Autoline D4101) that I'm thinking of buying. Thoughts before I do? I've searched the web for a long time and it seems as if I'm the only one with this problem .

Thanks for any help you can offer. My truck has been down for a few weeks as I've tried to figure out why no spark. Replaced and checked the ignition module, checked the ignition coil (Accel less than 2 years old), and wires. I'm getting a steady light on with the test light at the IC even when I turn the engine over and IM is new (and tested) - this is why I'm replacing the distributor in the first place.

 

Cardone doesn't manufacture their distributor bodies, they rebuild O.E.M. cores. And it's not the amount of the body above the block, but the distance below the block that's the measurement that matters here. I would suspect that Accell coil. I bought one several years ago (EFI also like yours) and the POS didn't last a year before it quit working. The factory coils are better than Accell. Accell used to be good stuff, but based on my experience with them lately, they're crap.

 

I just waited on the rebuilt one from RockAuto instead of trying to knock the Cardone one down a little. That may have worked, but I was only going to do it as a last resort. The one from RA was a MotorCraft that was exactly the same in appearance and the MC part number stamped on it was identical. Slid right in with minimal caressing.

I had marked the intake with the exact location of where the rotor was pointing before I removed the original distributor and I hand turned #1 cylinder to TDC so the truck fired right up. Had to twist the distributor a tiny bit after a test drive and now it runs great. Thanks for looking and the replies. Now I hope I can return the Cardone to Amazon and the ignition module to Advance.