EFC Distributor Breakage
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From: NVA
EFC Distributor Breakage
I picked up an 85 F150- 300-6cly and T-18. I love these old trucks, even when they break on me. I had an 82 in HS that gave me many an adventure when it decided not to run. Anyway, yesterday my 85 broke down, and exhibited symptoms of vapor lock (it was 95 out), so I let it cool for an hour and tried again. This time it backfired and my muffler exploded, so I got it towed home. I ripped into it today, and found the drive gear had broken off the distributor. I was able to find it after talking to my dad, who had the same thing happen to him about 20 years ago on his 85 F150 with EFC (no muffler explosion though). I have a replacement distributor on the way, but is this breakage common or a symptom of a deeper problem. I got the truck to putter around and do light hauling, and want the 300 to last until I can build a 302 for it, which should be done in about a year. Could a loose timing chain cause this problem? Any wisdom would be greatley appreciated, as I don't want to waste time and $$ pulling the motor apart if it doesn't need it.
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From: Virginia
Your engine has gears for the cam, not a chain.
I have never worked on a six, but believe it's like an 8, in that the dist drives the oil pump. So what I would do is look down in the dist hole, and see if you can get something to turn the oil pump. If it won't turn, then the oil pump is locked up, and that's what broke the gear.
These engines also have a failure on one of the timing gears once in awhile. One of them is phenolic, and the teeth will strip. If you get it all together, make sure the new dist rotor turns when you crank the engine. If it doesn't then I would suspect the gear is stripped, which makes the camshaft not turn, which is what drives the dist, which drives the oil pump.
I have never worked on a six, but believe it's like an 8, in that the dist drives the oil pump. So what I would do is look down in the dist hole, and see if you can get something to turn the oil pump. If it won't turn, then the oil pump is locked up, and that's what broke the gear.
These engines also have a failure on one of the timing gears once in awhile. One of them is phenolic, and the teeth will strip. If you get it all together, make sure the new dist rotor turns when you crank the engine. If it doesn't then I would suspect the gear is stripped, which makes the camshaft not turn, which is what drives the dist, which drives the oil pump.
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Joined: Aug 2007
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From: NVA
The actual gear had broken free of the shaft, and the oil pump drive shaft kept it from falling into the oil pan. I could turn the rotor by hand when it was still hooked up to the oil pump, but I'll check that before I seal it back up. Thanks for the tip on the timing gears, I will make sure everything rotates when I get it together before firing up.
