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I'm not a pre-EFI SBF guru that can spit differences in block or parts at ya, but I do know that a shaft length happened at some point.....I think it's safe to say that you need the longer driveshaft. For 30 bucks, I'd buy it, and meticulously compare the lengths of 1 from base of shaft to block flange between the two.
Thanks for the info. I did some digging, and this is also an issue for the 5.0 Mustang guys.
Can I replace the driveshaft from the top, or do I need to drop the oil pan & pump?
Thanks
You can do it from the top, you just have to be careful that each piece is seated before the next component goes on (i.e. shaft seated into pump, dizzy seated into shaft), no binding, no forcing with bolts, etc etc
That oil pump drive shaft will come up and out the hole with the little retainer in place
It can also be put back in from the top (with the retainer on it)
If it falls out of your socket and falls down into the oil pan, is when you actually need to remove the pan (maybe)
I have fished them out of the pan when they fall down with a long flexible magnet
Then you can try it again
Use heavy grease in the socket so you can hold the shaft up vertically and it doesn't fall out of your socket
Good luck, it can be done
That oil pump drive shaft will come up and out the hole with the little retainer in place
It can also be put back in from the top (with the retainer on it)
If it falls out of your socket and falls down into the oil pan, is when you actually need to remove the pan (maybe)
I have fished them out of the pan when they fall down with a long flexible magnet
Then you can try it again
Use heavy grease in the socket so you can hold the shaft up vertically and it doesn't fall out of your socket
Good luck, it can be done
That's good, because I'm not dropping the pan. I would modify the distributor before I did that.
I stumbled on a 5.0 mustang forum that talked about why Ford made the change. According to the post, the distributor shaft was lengthened to help make the distributor easier to install. The longer section engages and aligns the oil pump drive shaft before the distributor gears engage. This prevents the distributor from being jammed if the oil pump drive shaft is misaligned. The longer one allows the installer to rotate the shaft onto the oil pump drive until it properly aligns. This is impossible to do on the shorter distributor because the shaft meets the oil pump drive and cam gear at the same time.
This article also stated that you can install the older "short" distributors in place of a longer one without changing anything else.
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