I am replacing distributer on 1996 (Dec 1995 build) Bronco Eddie Bauer w 5.8 Liter Engine

The distributer is offered with a steel gear or cast-iron gear. I don't know how to tell which I need...

No one at the parts store knows

I took the distributer out but don't know how to tell if the gear on it is iron or steel

I searched the internet and this Forum and it seems that the engine came with either an iron cam (flat-tappet lifters) or a steel cam (roller lifters) and thus steel distributer gear for engines w steel cam and roller lifters
iron distributer gear for engines w iron cam and flat-tappet lifters

The problem is I haven't been able to find out if my engine has a steel cam or iron cam

Also, I looked on the internet for that and was not able to find a clear answer. Some say all 5.8 after 1994 have steel roller cams, but then I found some that say they have iron cams.

I found a number on my engine block, but did not find anything determinative.

The engine number is F4 E-6015-AA-11 (I guess the 6 could be a G)

This is pretty frustrating. I want to make a correct replacement

 

You need a steel distributor gear as that motor has a steel roller cam.

 

Thanks Conanski. If you don't mind, I have 2 follow-up questions.
1) Is there a danger or risk in using the distributer w the iron gear? I know the iron is not as tough as the steel. The reason I ask is that by the time I read your post, I had already followed other advice and installed the distributer w the iron gear.
2) Would you tell me how you figured out that this motor has a steel roller cam? I spent a lot of time on forums yesterday and had posts that went back and forth on the issue. Some posts said that all 5.8s after 94 had steel cams and others specifically said that they had a 96 that had an iron cam. Is it just that you know from personal experience? Or is there a guide or web page I could look at for things like that in the future?

 

All 5.8 motors built after '94 had a steel roller cam so all '94+ trucks came from the factory with a roller motor, but given the age of these vehicles now you can never be certain if a motor is all original or that the motor currently in the truck is the original. You can confirm if you have a roller cam pretty easily however, you just have to remove the drivers side valve cover and the front most rocker arm, and then either measure the pushrod length or shine a light down the pushrod hole to see if there is a dogbone around the lifter. If you see a dogbone you have a roller motor.

The danger of using a softer metal distributor gear with a steel cam is that softer metal will wear down quickly, and since the distributor drives the oil pump a failure here is very bad.

 

OK. Thanks a lot for the help.

 

if the wrong gear is used, the gear will shred and all that metal will contaminate an cause potential catastrophic failure.

way the risk. the best way to be safe is have the original distributor gear swapped to the dizzy you buy.