I thought the shaft was in place with secure clips to keep it in place. I recently pulled my dist out and the shaft came with it but I would not come out all the way because there was something secured to that shaft. Something on the shaft would not allow it to come out of the dist hole all the way. I put it back in and it runs fine.

 

by now you must be in a state where you start think fixing it with a sledge hammer ... i know how that feels

 

Funny how things work...............I've let the car sit for over a week for various reasons.......including traveling to Florida for four days to watch the shuttle that never launched.......................

Anyway, I walk into the garage this afternoon......hook up the battery.......put my hand on the distributor cap with a bit of pressure.......just like I've done 7348 times before.......bumped the starter with the remote button.......distributor slips right on down almost effortlessly..........I nearly fainted.

I've had it in and out several times since with no problem.

Now if I can just get the car to crank and run!!!! It is SO close!!!

Thanks for ALL of the input guys!!

 

Set timing.

 

tryin

 

woohhooooo ... about fecking time that distributor/oilshaft gave up *g*

anyway. the timing is a two step process so to say. 1. get the car to run 2. with a timing light adjust the timing.
Obviously you need to get your car to run ... here's how

- drop the distributor in there with cap removed
- turn the engine to TDC
- check where the rotor is pointing to. it should be kinda close to any of the 8 spark plug ports (check with cap where they are sitting exactly)
- turn distributor so the rotor points to any of the ports and make sure from there you can turn the distributor in both ways a good bit (for final adjustment). so nothing is mechanically blocking it for at least 20 degrees both ways
- put cap on. put #1 spark plug on the socket where the rotor is pointing to
- connect all other spark plugs in firing order anticlockwise.
289 stock is: 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8.
So put #5 spark lead on socket next to #1 (anticlockwise). #4 spark plug anticlockwise next to #5 and so on
once all is hooked up:

remote start the engine. wiggle a bit with the distributor (turn a bit clockwise or anticlockwise).

a) the engine fires up, great. adjust timing with gun
b) the engine misfires badly and turning doesn't help (swap the plugs on top of cap 180 degrees. each cable with it's exact opposite. described that earlier in the thread. try again)
c) nothing happens at all. check your wiring, fuel etc

well ... enjoy ...

 

WoooHoo is right!!!


Appreciate it.......hopefully can try again this evening.