Distributor won't sit flush

gnx547

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I installed the stock distributor with number 1 piston on TDC and the distributor won't sit flush. There is a small gap, I can fit a flat head screw driver in there. I'm turning the distributor back and forth and at the same time putting a little pressure on the distributor and it won't go in any further. I took out the distributor and there is no crap inside the hole where the shaft goes into. I remove the slight rust around the base and lubed it up with oil and still won't go in all the way to sit flush..Any ideas?



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gnx547

gnx547

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I'm afraid I might break something if I use a hammer. Maybe tapping the base with a chisel?
 

ttocs

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nonono I was kidding completely. There should be no use of hammers or chisels to install a dist. I would try to make sure its all cleaned out as it would be easy for there to be a small piece of something on the front edge where it would be hard to see. Try a vacuum and some compressed air.
 
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gnx547

gnx547

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I'm thinking the oil drive shaft might be too long? I'm not using the stock oil drive shaft, I'm using a Melling oil pump and it came with the drive shaft. Before installing it, I did put both side by side and they both were the same length. I remember the collar was different but both were at the same height location.
 

cameron57

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Looks like your a tooth off. Did you change the oil pump driveshaft
 

cameron57

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Just saw your post did you get the driveshaft all the way in. Try rotating the gear one way or the other. Or try restabing it. Turning the base does nothing. Pick it up and turn the bug abit.
 
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gnx547

gnx547

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Yes, the driveshaft is all the way in. I tried several times restabbing it, turning the gear back and forth and tried turning the motor a little bit and still won't sit flush.
 

toyman

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Let's start at the top. Was the distributor removed to install a new oil pump and are you now reinstalling it? Was the gear on the distributor shaft removed?
 
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gnx547

gnx547

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I installed a 98 explorer block with a new oil pump and drive shaft. The distributor was removed from my old engine and no the gear on the distributor shaft was not removed.
 

ttocs

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are the dist the same from the pushrod to the modulars? I have never compared them and would not be surprised if they are, or if there is THAT much of a difference between the two to keep you from using them.
 
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gnx547

gnx547

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My old motor was not a modular, it was the stock 5.0 from my 95 that spun a bearing.
 

duh09

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Not 100% sure but isn't the 98 Explorer 5.0L setup for coil packs? Blocks could be slightly different but not 100% sure.
 

lutter94

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Does a 4.6 have a distributor?? News to me if it does.....

Ford Explorer was 5.0 till 2001. Idk about 5.0 distributor vs. coil packs.
 

cameron57

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Might try a dizzy from a 98 exploxer. But They should be the same.
 
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gnx547

gnx547

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The 5.0 on the Explorer is distributorless. It has a coil pack and uses a cam and crankshaft sensor. When I got the block I compared it to the one in my 95 and it is exactly the same.
 

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