Distributor Play
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,119
Likes: 390
From: Evansville, Indiana
Distributor Play
I just put in a NEW Cardone distributor. With distributor in place, pressing down on rotor/shaft, I have a little bit of upward play in the housing. Good. When I hold down tight on the housing, no play in the shaft. Bad. Did I buy junk? Is there a shim I can put under the housing or does the gear have to be moved up? Or collar above gear moved down? Or bottom of housing machined back?
I initially just went to tighten the distributor locking bolt without checking the play and noticed that it seemed to be "pushing a gap" closed. Measuring, there is about a .010"-.015" gap at the base of the distributor.
Or did I completely miss something?
I initially just went to tighten the distributor locking bolt without checking the play and noticed that it seemed to be "pushing a gap" closed. Measuring, there is about a .010"-.015" gap at the base of the distributor.
Or did I completely miss something?
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,119
Likes: 390
From: Evansville, Indiana
I have the distributor on the bench. Total end play is good at .032". Searching the net has not turned up a shim to put between housing and block. Leaning towards moving the cam gear up the shaft. With the measurements I already took, it should move up at least .020". I'll try that out in the block before drilling a new hole.
Also, the distributor I ordered is for a 1986 Mustang. It needed a steel gear. The block I'm using is from a 1996 Explorer.
Also, the distributor I ordered is for a 1986 Mustang. It needed a steel gear. The block I'm using is from a 1996 Explorer.
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,119
Likes: 390
From: Evansville, Indiana
After comparing the new Cardone with my original distributor, taking all kinds of measurements, I have decided to Mill .020" off the collar. This will make it the same as the original, bottom of gear to top of collar.
Redrilling the gear looks iffy as it is not a press fit. I figured it would be too hard to position accurately. If you hold the distributor upright, the unpinned gear will fall off.
For anyone thinking about the collar on the oil pump shaft, good call. But it's not that. The shaft on the Cardone is just a tad shorter than the OE. Plus, when I built the motor, I made sure there was good clearance there.
Redrilling the gear looks iffy as it is not a press fit. I figured it would be too hard to position accurately. If you hold the distributor upright, the unpinned gear will fall off.
For anyone thinking about the collar on the oil pump shaft, good call. But it's not that. The shaft on the Cardone is just a tad shorter than the OE. Plus, when I built the motor, I made sure there was good clearance there.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,551
Likes: 847
I've heard all replacement non Ford distributors are junk.
If the unpinned gear falls off, I would assume it is incorrect, or something or both parts are not matched for each other.
I pulled 2 gears off factory distributor(EFI), was a pain in the but, first one broke my puller.
Putting new gear on shaft, had to drill new hole, in the gear, not in the shaft. Was difficult, measured lots, started with small drill bit, went to same size in distributor.
Once hole was drilled, had to press gear on shaft. Broke my hydraulic bench press, ended up using a car jack jerry rigged to press on the rest of the way.
I chose to drill the hole myself, more satisfaction if it works. I chose not to take to engine shop, because I would be pissed if they screwed it up.
If the unpinned gear falls off, I would assume it is incorrect, or something or both parts are not matched for each other.
I pulled 2 gears off factory distributor(EFI), was a pain in the but, first one broke my puller.
Putting new gear on shaft, had to drill new hole, in the gear, not in the shaft. Was difficult, measured lots, started with small drill bit, went to same size in distributor.
Once hole was drilled, had to press gear on shaft. Broke my hydraulic bench press, ended up using a car jack jerry rigged to press on the rest of the way.
I chose to drill the hole myself, more satisfaction if it works. I chose not to take to engine shop, because I would be pissed if they screwed it up.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,551
Likes: 847
Get out your mics, measure shaft size OD and gear ID.
There are three different sizes you are playing with, and I'd say your gear and or distributor are not matched:
0.467
0.500
0.531
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,119
Likes: 390
From: Evansville, Indiana
Would you say that the gear fits on the shaft, with about 15thousands of an inch gap on either side?
Get out your mics, measure shaft size OD and gear ID.
There are three different sizes you are playing with, and I'd say your gear and or distributor are not matched:
0.467
0.500
0.531
Get out your mics, measure shaft size OD and gear ID.
There are three different sizes you are playing with, and I'd say your gear and or distributor are not matched:
0.467
0.500
0.531
Actually, caliper was an okay tool. OEM gear measures .531", same as the shaft. The Cardone supplied gear measures .533".
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,119
Likes: 390
From: Evansville, Indiana
👍 Why I never take anything to a shop.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,119
Likes: 390
From: Evansville, Indiana
Mission accomplished. Distributor now has acceptable play. I don't understand why the Cardone distributor fit as it did. In hindsight, I should have bought the Echlin pickup from NAPA and put it in my original distributor.
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