Matching distributor and oil pump drive shaft

[70sbudget]

For fs sake. Is there anything harder to do on these?

Please submit any suggestions.

1. Yes, this distributor had been seated previously. Pulled to turn 180 and now I can't get it to seat.

I've gone as far as marking the rotor to show where the hex is set at the end if the shaft, and marking the top of a hex tools so I can turn each and know where it is.

Then after rotating I have to center the pump so it sits in the middle of the hole so that the distributor can receive the shaft as it descends into the depth if this forsaken block.

I don't want to tap or force it as it may push the shaft down. Or is it okay to persuade it from the top?

So frustrated

 

[blubuckaroo]

Turn the engine over while having someone press down on the distributor.
Some use a wrench to turn the dampener bolt, but I have always just bumped the starter.
The crank only needs to turn a small amount since the oil pump drive shaft is octagonal.

Here again you're lucky you have a Ford. Chevy uses a slotted drive, so sometimes the distributor has to turn half a turn.

 

[jckkys]

Just tap the starter to turn the crank a few degrees, putting a little downward pressure on the distributor. It will simply fall into the oil pump. If it ends up on a slightly different tooth of the drive gear, lift it out again. You can then feel it go over whatever number of teeth needed to get the vacuum advance pointed straight forward with the rotor pointed at the #1 post. It works in other positions but just doesn't look right.

 

[ntsqd]

Just DO NOT bump it under power while pushing down with the rotor in place. Ask me how I know how this feels....

 

[70sbudget]

ITS ALIVE!!!!

10 seconds after tapping "post" it dropped right in. After noticing it wasn't shooting fuel into the venturi we took an air hose to the fuel inlet. A few pulls of the trigger and we had two fountains of fuel. Turn the key and she is ALIVE!!!