Need Help quick Please - Changing distributor

[Mountain Man]

I need some quick help. I am removing and installing a new HEI unit in my 350. I marked my rotor position on firewall, and slowly pulled the distributor up and marked where the rotor turned backwards as well - as a point of reference as to where to drop the new one in.

I can't seem to get the new one in all the way. It bottoms out about a 1/8" to 1/4" before resting on the manifold, and the rotor is not quite pointing where it should because it is not all the way down. What can I do about this, it will not go all the way down no matter how hard I try.

Is it hitting the oil pump some how? Somebody tell me how I can get the distributor to go all the way down. There must be a trick to this.

[Mountain Man]

Went out to try again. The old one and the new one both will not go into the engine all the way. It seems to bottom out on something. It is propably a good 1/2" from resting on the manifold.

I am desparate for some good technical help.

[Jeepster376]

The oil pump shaft is not lining up. It engages with the distributer shaft like a big screwdriver blade in the slot. You need to stick a big long screwdriver down there and rotate the oil pump into a position where it will engage. When it does the distributer will drop all the way. It may take a little trial and error.

[Longhorn Man]

I have seen ppl put the cap on the dist and have an assistant gently push down as the engine is being cranked to like up the drive shaft...but I prefer the old screwdriver method better myself.

[Randy70C-10]

If you remember which plug wire was at the rotor before removal, all you have to do is either turn the distributor or shift the plug wires over one hole. The rotor can be pointing anywhere as long as it's pointing at the same wire.

[LONGHAIR]

All you have to do is turn the engine a few degrees and it will drop in. The gear teeth are enguaged you are just missing the oil pump. Just turn it by the crank bolt and it will drop.

[Randy70C-10]

Only problem is that if you turn it by the crank bolt or turn the engine a few degrees, you also change the timing mark and the rotor won't work if you drop it in the same position.

[Mountain Man]

Well thanks for the advise guys. I did not have a screw driver long enough so I improvised and used a hack saw blade to turn the oil pump screw. Got it in on the second try.

Let me tell you, I thought that there might be something wrong with the P/O's junkyard HEI. My engine always seemed to be lacking power for a fresh rebuild. I put on the Edelbrock Performer EPS manifold and carb, and a Carter fuel pump , since buying this new project truck in March, but it seemed like a dog.

I dropped in ( thanks to the boards help), a brand new Proform GM style HEI with 50,000 volt HEI style coil. The second I fired it up I knew that things had improved dramatically. The engine has come to life and the acceleration is impressive (even with 3.07 gears). I took a 3 mile test drive and punched it from a stop on the loop back, and I got rubber all the way thru first, and chirped into second. NOW THATS MORE LIKE IT!!!

[Randy70C-10]

Awsome, glad to hear all went well.