Joined: Mon Jun 26 2006, 11:31PM
Location: Newtown, PA
Posts: 239
Hey guys, I was wondering if anyone here has installed an MSD #8387. I can get it to go down to the widest ring, right below the hold-down flange, but it only goes in about another 1/8th, (about 1/8th inch below the o-ring), then it doesn't want to go any more. This puts the hold-down flange almost 3/8ths from seating to the block. I really don't want to force it. I thought at first the shaft might not be lined up, but near as I can tell the tapered end of the shaft is going into the slot. My next thought was to remove the cap so I can watch the rotor to be sure that it really is seated. I just thought I would ask around for any similar problems. The block was painted, but the hole for the dist is down to the metal, so that isn't it. It is a 69 440 FWIW. Thanks, Dave
Joined: Mon Jun 26 2006, 11:31PM
Location: Newtown, PA
Posts: 239
Thanks guys, It isn't even making it to the O-ring yet. I don't have the old one to measure by, but I have a 72 T&C wagon with a 440 that I need to tune up, maybe I'll pull that one and compare the lengths? I have a hard time thinking MSD is off on this, because it is application specific, but who knows? Dave
Joined: Sat Mar 29 2008, 03:36PM
Location: North eastern Wis.
Posts: 1638
Some times the oil pump drive, or cam gear gets lifted when the distributor is pulled. Your parts might be fine, still compare it to the old one like mentioned before
Joined: Mon Jun 26 2006, 11:31PM
Location: Newtown, PA
Posts: 239
It is a little tough to see down inside, but it almost looks like the slot is part of something that is fixed in place inside the block. Does anyone have pictures of this stuff from when an engine is apart? From above it looks like the gear comes up into a housing of sorts from below??? I'm fried. Dave
Joined: Fri Oct 07 2005, 12:03PM
Location: Central Ky.
Posts: 1575
The gear you see down in the hole has the shaft made onto it to drive the oil pump. It has a hex-shaped end at the oil pump & has to seat into the oil pump drive.
Is this a fresh build? Might not be seated. You can hand-crank the engine over a bit or tap the starter & make sure it's seated
Unless the Distributor is the wrong one so check that first ( easier ). If the distributor shaft is the right length then the gear & shaft isn't seated in the oil pump yet.
Course if ya crank it you'll have to find #1 TDC again for the distributor unless you just crank a bit & then back it up.
Joined: Mon Jun 26 2006, 11:31PM
Location: Newtown, PA
Posts: 239
Thanks Butch, Yes it is fresh. Well, sort of- it has been sitting over a year now since it was done. I squirted some oil into the cylinders and spun it a bunch of times before installing the plugs and wrapping it up in plastic wrap, so I have to reestablish TDC anyway. The shop spin tested it, but it has never been fired. So if I'm understanding you correctly, you think the female end of the shaft where the dist shaft mates could have risen up a little bit? I guess the way to check that would be to bar it over a little in each direction to see if the gear drops a little? Seems to make sense, however I would hope things were a little tighter in there overall, you know? After all, the timing is pretty important. Dave
Joined: Thu May 01 2008, 11:15AM
Location: Chicago,IL
Posts: 2868
If you turn that gear down in there with a big flat blade screwdriver, turning counter clockwise you should not be able to move it at all as it'll contact the gears on the cam. If you spin it clockwise it should walk itself up the gears and come out. I would rock it back and forth with the screwdriver to make sure it's down where it needs to be. Usually I don't have any trouble with that, the trouble I have is with oil pump replacement I have to take the dizzy out in order to get the pump in, then put the dizzy back in. Won't mesh for some reason in the opposite order.
Joined: Thu May 01 2008, 11:15AM
Location: Chicago,IL
Posts: 2868
a side note, since you're on a 440 here, unless the dizzy is just plain made wrong, there's no way for you to have the wrong part. A 383/400 dizzy would drop right in (but not contact the gear).