Thread: distributer shims?

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My distributer is not seating all the way flush with the intake manifold on my 77 350. It looks like it needs to go down maybe 3/32 of an inch. I have no idea how many times the block was machined. I bought it from the machine shop. I was wondering if i needed to shim it due to block decking and the size of the combustion chambers. I just dont know how to go about this or what size shim I should use.

should check the gear that the dist grear is on running off the cam up or down if a stock dist you can put some layout past on the gear drop it in crank around and look at were it lays out should be in the mild point of the dist gear you first want to shim it up so you can lock it down with out bottoming it out and taking out the oil pump .are you sure there no burr or not down on the oil pump drive?you can buy shims from moroso and start there first or make up some shims .if you have a lathe or know some one you can cut the hold down step off your dist and make it so you can move it up and down you can buy the slip collar from MSD or a pully spacer would work

I turned the motor over with the starter and oil shot out the pressure fitting, so I think it is sat in there. What is layout paste?

Originally Posted by josh bichard

I turned the motor over with the starter and oil shot out the pressure fitting, so I think it is sat in there. What is layout paste?

i would crank it thru by hand with plugs out lay out paste can be pickup at a parts store (prussian blue ) or go to a art store and buy a tube of yellow oil base paint a small bit will go along way

Thanks Pat, will I need to change my oil afterwards?

Originally Posted by josh bichard

Thanks Pat, will I need to change my oil afterwards?

no just use a small amont on the cam gear put it on with a brush or finger you can use a red marker like a big sharpie but this way works only on very clean dist gear wash it good you can try this way to

The oil pump drive is the only thing that can stop the dist. from seating. Is there an aftermarket pump in it? The shaft may be too long. I'd pull the oil pan and see if the dist. goes all the way in without the pump. If so, you need a new pump that's built right. I had one that was too short, and stripped the drive out from too little engagement. Imported crap.