Thread: Distributor location

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Is there a "GOOD" reason CHevy put the distributor in the rear where it's so hard to get to? The 460 FOrd I used to h ave was right up front. Of course it didnt have all the fancy computers hooked to it either. Those were the days...

Yep in 1958 Fords engine guys moved the dist forward so you could get to it easier----and the body guys changed the body so the hood hinged from the front so it was still sorta the same body twisting to work on

I use a chevy because I like the distributor way back there. Its in a jeep, so by being in the rear it takes a lot to get it wet. I do not see why you think it is sooo hard to get to.

You could go to a flying magnet and coil packs

Originally Posted by jeepman1320

I do not see why you think it is sooo hard to get to.

Wait 'til you're my age.....

As one ages gravity tends to increase our waistlines,when I was younger I had quite a few Chevys after laying my beer gut on a hot radiator I wished for a Ford,my wish came true!

I dont have a distributor in my car, my grandpa says it is a coil pack and a crank trigger..
Wasn't that someones horse in a western movie?

Well, Roy Rogers did crank off a few rounds while riding Trigger.....

It's called "furniture disease". Your chest fell into your drawers!

shed for your tools!!!

The reason the distributor is in the rear is because of the oil pan layout....a rear sump suggests that the oil pump is in the rear and the small block designers wanted to drive the oil pump using the distributor shaft....hence both needed to be in line and at the back of the engine. The reason that a Chevy had the individual rocker arms is because they were trying to take money out of the rocker shaft design...a benefit they didnt plan on was the rev potential of the lightweight valve actuation system.

mike in tucson

My Granddaughter says 'Pa swallowed a suitcase. Laying over a fender and reaching way down into that hole where the "motor" sits is almost impossible for me anymore. You "kids" out there have a rude awakening coming; even if you don't get "hefty", you get "rusty" and stiff.

I think it's my grey hair that makes it hard on me. LOL But really, It is hard because this suburban is BIG and you have to climb into the engine to reach everything.

Yeah, when I was younger, I used to like pu's and my 55 chevy. You could climb in and set on the fender well or radiator, and work on it even in the rain. Now I'm glad I lowered my 66 pu cause I can barely get in anymore without bout killing myself. It's the little things that are such a pain now, (literally).

Ya know youre getting old when stuff that aint supposed to be stiff is. And stuff thats supposed to be stiff Aint.

I went to an NSRA show a short while back and did the swap meet thing - where you stand in about the same place all day. It really gives you a 'perspective' on weight distribution on many menfolk (and a few of the others) in their seniorhood (i.e. over 50). Yeah, my chest has fallen a bit, but I can still wear 36 waist pants without too much of a dunlap and I've gone by the 65 summers mark a bit.

Now, what this has to do with a Chebbie distributor location........