Distributor Gear Removal
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Churchville, VA
Distributor Gear Removal
I have a 5.0 out of an 88 Cougar, going into my 53 F100.
I'm changing a lot of things, and found this is a roller cam. The distributor gear shows very little wear and I would like to reuse it. What's the best way to get that bugger off? I have the pin out, but it won't budge. I didn't try too hard, didn't want to damage the gear or the distributor.
Any suggestions?
I'm changing a lot of things, and found this is a roller cam. The distributor gear shows very little wear and I would like to reuse it. What's the best way to get that bugger off? I have the pin out, but it won't budge. I didn't try too hard, didn't want to damage the gear or the distributor.
Any suggestions?
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,711
Likes: 2
From: Pittsburgh
so you're trying to take the drive gear off of the distributor out of the cougar to put it on another distrbutor to use with the roller cam?
If so, you should just have to pull the pin out and it should slide off. It'll take some doing, but the pin should be the only thing holding it together. Some penetrating oil and a brass hammer would probably be helpful, just take your time.
Justin
If so, you should just have to pull the pin out and it should slide off. It'll take some doing, but the pin should be the only thing holding it together. Some penetrating oil and a brass hammer would probably be helpful, just take your time.
Justin
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,776
Likes: 5
From: Lorain County, Ohio
Originally Posted by 1Digger
I have a 5.0 out of an 88 Cougar, going into my 53 F100.
I'm changing a lot of things, and found this is a roller cam. The distributor gear shows very little wear and I would like to reuse it. What's the best way to get that bugger off? I have the pin out, but it won't budge. I didn't try too hard, didn't want to damage the gear or the distributor.
Any suggestions?
I'm changing a lot of things, and found this is a roller cam. The distributor gear shows very little wear and I would like to reuse it. What's the best way to get that bugger off? I have the pin out, but it won't budge. I didn't try too hard, didn't want to damage the gear or the distributor.
Any suggestions?
Good news is, the gear 'can' be pulled and reused.
Bad newsews is, It's pressed on and a real bitch to get the hole for the roll pin lined up. Ford recommends drilling a new hole through all pieces at once.
More good news, there is a tool to press the gear on and off. You can rent it.
More bad news, When installing the gear the tool puts pressure on the collar holding the shaft in the distributor housing and breaks it.
I have the tool, I bought it a long time ago. It's even a Blue Point, not a cheapie. I have NEVER sucessfully replaced a distributor gear on a used 5.0 distributor. YMMV
Oh, any little amount of varnish on the shaft will bind the gear and shatter it. If you try to R and R the gear, make sure you have a distributor waiting in the wings just in case.
Last edited by lsrx101; Apr 8, 2007 at 08:47 PM. Reason: added info
Hotshot
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 11,141
Likes: 25
From: south louisiana
Do yourself a favor and go buy a reman distributor with the steel gear already on it. A reman costs about the same as a new steel gear. Reman GT/HO 5.0 roller ready Duraspark from Advance Auto: $55 exchanged. New steel cam gear from Summit Racing (Ford Racing gear) $45.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,323
Likes: 2
From: Montana Territory
I've never seen one that was 'pressed' on the way you describe... they have always come off with a little tug after the roll pin was removed... I think Ford should have used a woodruff key instead of the cheap roll pin though...
Hotshot
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 11,141
Likes: 25
From: south louisiana
I've done two distributor gear swaps and neither cam came off willingly after the pin was removed.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,323
Likes: 2
From: Montana Territory
i was thinking that maybe the 302 ones were different and I went out to the garage and grabbed an old one and popped the pin out and it came right off too... I don't know.. every other one that I have done has been an FE distributor or a 351C-460 distributor... never had a problem... I've had them stuck solidly in the block before... thats a different matter...
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Hotshot
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 11,141
Likes: 25
From: south louisiana
Both the ones I did were small block 302 distributors. Both were remans. Had to press the cast gear off and press the steel gear back on. I'd be leary of running one that had enough clearance for the gear to slide on, in that case the only thing keeping the oil drive turning is that tiny *** roll pin. 
Roll pin breaks, oil pump stops. 
Roll pin breaks, oil pump stops.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,323
Likes: 2
From: Montana Territory
On a plus, the engine also stops... I had a problem with a Mallory distributor breaking roll pins, I switched over to the factory Duraspark II and haven't had a problem, but at the same time, the gear still slips on and off...
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