Can't get distributor to lock down.
 

I am having a fun issue. I have installed many distributors with no issues. I had my engine rebuilt a few years back and have constantly had timing issues. I thought it was an internal distributor problem and chased that for a while, then purchased a GM branded HEI from Summit. Dropped it in and have been driving it but still having issues. The other day while replacing plug wires I bumped the distributor with my hand causing it to move. No matter how much I tightened the hold down it still moved. Bought a fancy Edelbrock hold down with a stud and still moved. Bought the the moroso shim kit, removed the distributor and checked to see how much gap between the base of the distributor and the intake which was about .025. Installed the thick shim from the kit which checked about .065 and the gasket. Also got an OEM hold down from the salvage yard, used a stud so I would know the bolt is not bottoming out. Snugged up real good, let it run about 10 minutes after timing blipped the throttle and sure enough it rotated. I have not tried what another member on here did, which was to tap his oil pump shaft and his seated, which I will try tomorrow. I have pulled my 3 remaining hairs out. Any help would be appreciated.

Engine is a 283 with vortec heads and Edelbrock intake built by Boyettes machine shop in raleigh, a very reputable place.

Re: Can't get distributor to lock down.
 

I saw a clamp like this one once. Used on an off-road buggy. Under heavy vibrations the distributor wouldn’t stay in place.
Likely easy to make one.




https://www.connollymarine.com/Chevr.../all-27500.htm

Re: Can't get distributor to lock down.
 

Thanks. That certainly looks like it would hold it. I'm just concerned I'm putting downward pressure on the oil pump. Other than the oil pump which rotates easy enough there's no real load on the distributor.

Re: Can't get distributor to lock down.
 

There must not be much downward pressure on the oil pump if it still turns. It must not be sitting tight on the manifold. I think I would try a double gasket to see if it tightens it up. I wonder if the heads and intake have been re-surfaced.

Re: Can't get distributor to lock down.
 

Re: Can't get distributor to lock down.
 

Thanks for the reply. I agree because I've driven the truck for a while now but always chasing this timing issue. I tried the moroso nylon spacers with no luck.

I checked using my msd street fire distributor last night and without a gasket or spacers stands about ..035 taller than the intake. Seems the spacers and gasket installed would have compensated. The engine was completely redone and yes the block was decked .010 and has vortec heads. I called the engine shop and they said I should just need the spacer. I did try what another member on here did which was tap the intermediate shaft to make sure it's seated with no luck. I have also tried multiple hold downs but none of the extreme ones like geezer or rocknrod posted. Can't believe my little 283 would need something that extreme but I'm close to buying one.

Still looking for help...thanks everyone.

Re: Can't get distributor to lock down.
 

Got to thinking and remembered a similar problem you have.
Found the slot in the pump that the distributor shaft slides into had a small burr in it. Held the collar up enough it wouldn’t tighten down.
Had to reshape the tang a bit so it slid in better.
You could check that.

Re: Can't get distributor to lock down.
 

Thanks. The intermediate shaft to the pump or to the distributor?

Re: Can't get distributor to lock down.
 

I think he means oil pump.

Re: Can't get distributor to lock down.
 

Does anyone have a idea as to how a regular HEI gap to the intake would be on a stock engine? Is there a gap or, does the distributor sit flush on the intake with no gasket?

Re: Can't get distributor to lock down.
 

Thanks, I'm hoping I don't need to take the pan off but I'm almost there... I'm going to call the engine builder again today.

Re: Can't get distributor to lock down.
 

Could be the driveshaft is to long. I have only had that problem on 400sb though.

Re: Can't get distributor to lock down.
 

Called the engine shop. A few years back some of the companies like Moroso were shipping BBC intermediate shafts in SBC packaging. They said maybe they missed one. Told me to pack the bottom of the distributor with grease and install it with the shims and the gasket, if it pushed all the grease out odds are its the BBC shaft which is approximately .500 inch longer. Sure enough all the grease came out. Pulling the pan later today... I'll post a picture. Thanks everyone.

Re: Can't get distributor to lock down.
 

Picture of distributor shaft. That is with the 2 thick nylon shims about .090 and gasket installed.

Re: Can't get distributor to lock down.
 

I did, but not wanting to pull the pump out I ground a little on the distributor shaft instead.

Re: Can't get distributor to lock down.
 

Well folks I am officially at a loss. Pulled the oil pump and it was the correct shaft. All the pieces go together as they should, shaft to pump, distributor to shaft. Put the distributor in with no shaft and still won't lock down with a gasket and a spacer. I'm truly stuck...

Re: Can't get distributor to lock down.
 

I'd be giving that intake manifold the side eye. Something must be out of spec with that. Maybe the old 283 has been decked more than once?

Re: Can't get distributor to lock down.
 

Thanks. I honestly have no idea as far as whether it was worked before or not. So would I add more shims? How does one know if the gear is in the cam correctly? I have no out of the ordinary wear on the distributor gear.

Re: Can't get distributor to lock down.
 

I don't think that gear clearance is going to make much difference on the intake mounting part. If anything it would be best to have no shims in there with the problem you are having. When you drop the dist in place, how much of a gap do you have between the intake surface and the distributor sealing surface? If the gap is big, something is out of spec, I would fill the gap with nylon washers and drive it.

Re: Can't get distributor to lock down.
 

I really appreciate the time all of you have put into trying to help me solve this. I like things to work as they should. The gap when installed is only about .030, with no oil pump shaft, so I keep thinking it should lock down with a .060 spacer and gasket. But cadillac you are right, I could throw the shims and a gasket in, buy one of the clamps that geezer and rocknrod mentioned and probably drive it. I may pull the motor and take it back to the builder. Honestly not hard to take out and put in, a day each way. Whatever I do, I will post back so that if anyone else chases their tail like I am right now, hopefully, this thread will help. If anyone has any other ideas though, I'm still all ears...

Re: Can't get distributor to lock down.
 

What kind of intake is it? Is it new?

Re: Can't get distributor to lock down.
 

Don’t you have an other distributor to drop in and check if it bolts down? If so I would measure both to see what the difference is, hope this helps.

Re: Can't get distributor to lock down.
 

Cadillac_al, yes it is a new edelbrock installed by the builder when they assembled the engine. I am growing more suspicious of the intake. I guess this is why I've been chasing the timing issue for so long.

Crossfire, thanks. Yes, I have tried multiple distributors and clamps. I even pulled one out of an old truck yesterday just to see if it would lock down. None have worked out.

Re: Can't get distributor to lock down.
 

What did you mean in post #20 about ‘no oil pump shaft’?

Re: Can't get distributor to lock down.
 

geezer#99, do you think it's possible it is bottoming out on the cam gear?

If the pump shaft were out out what else could it be?