Distributor/Oilpump wont engage

[cruzersoul]

I am in the process of trying to get my distributor to engage my oil pump. Are there any secrets to this. I have been trying for about 3 hours with no luck.

When I am able to get the distributor to engage the oil pump my engine runs like s*** and only reads 15 on my vacuum gauge.

I was able to get the distributor lined up perfectly 1 time but it didn't engage the oil pump and my vacuum gauge read 20-21.

Please let me know how this is done because at this rate it is going to take forever to install my distributor.

Thanks,
Drew

 

[dcamp]

I was working on installting a new dizzy today. Just use a long flat screwdrive to line up your pump slot to position it where the you want to dizzy pointing to (dead at #4). You can feel the dizzy seat the last 1/4" (or 5mm) of travel. It takes a little feel but you should hit it pretty quick. I can't explain the lack of vacc.
Dave

 

[lc69hunter]

You MUST have the dizzy engaging the oil pump. If not, you are good for about 3 miles before your engine freezes up.

That being said, Once you have the dizzy pumping oil and the engine running, and it's running like s***, I would suspect you are one cog off on the dizzy. Notice which way and how much the dizzy rotates when it engages. Then pull it back out, rotate about that much further back and re-engage.

If that is not the problem, then you have timing/other issues.

 

[lc69hunter]

X2 on what dcamp says about the screwdriver.

 

[Poser]

Line the oil pump up with the distributor drive so that when you drop the distributor into the engine when the #1 cylinder is at Top Dead Center on the compression stroke that the rotor is pointing at the #1 location on the distributor cap and it is a done-deal provided the distributor is fully seated and you have oil pressure.


Got the FSM?

 

[cruzersoul]

I will give it another try tomorrow. I do think that when the distributor seats it is off 1-2 cogs. Like I said I got it to line up perfectly and the engine was pulling 20-21 inches of mercury @ idle but the oil pump didn't want to engage.

The last 2 times I installed the distributor and it engaged the oil pump I was only getting between 10-15 inches of mercury.

Why is it when the ignition is a little out of whack it lowers your vacuum readings.

Thanks,
Drew

 

[cruzersoul]

Line the oil pump up with the distributor drive so that when you drop the distributor into the engine when the #1 cylinder is at Top Dead Center on the compression stroke that the rotor is pointing at the #1 location on the distributor cap and it is a done-deal provided the distributor is fully seated and you have oil pressure.


Got the FSM?

I have a Haynes manual which I think barely gets me by.

 

[Mark W]

You do realize that you are supposed to turn the oil pulp to where ever you need it to be to get it to line up with the distributor when you install the distributor so as to be timed correctly? You do not adjust the dist to line up with the oil pump. You move the pump to march the dist.

It is not a matter of "the oil pump will not engage". It is just a matter of you have not lines the components up right yet.


Mark...

 

[cruzersoul]

You MUST have the dizzy engaging the oil pump. If not, you are good for about 3 miles before your engine freezes up.

That being said, Once you have the dizzy pumping oil and the engine running, and it's running like ****, I would suspect you are one cog off on the dizzy. Notice which way and how much the dizzy rotates when it engages. Then pull it back out, rotate about that much further back and re-engage.

If that is not the problem, then you have timing/other issues.

I tried pulling the distributor out and rotating the distributor counter clockwise 1 cog and it actually wouldn't even start after that. So I figure that I need to rotate it clockwise two cogs and then go from there.

Does that sound right to everyone if not please let me know.

Thanks,
Drew

 

[Pighead]

I have a different way of seating the dizzy to the oil pump. I line up the gears the way I want, then, with the cap on the dizzy, I stand on the tire, lean over and put one hand on the cap, putting a fair amount of weight on it...with my other hand I jump the contacts on the starter motor. Motor turns over, cam turns dizzy shaft and dizzy falls down into oilpump slot. You can feel the dizzy slide down that last half inch and hear a good thunk as it seats.

 

[Mark W]

I tried pulling the distributor out and rotating the distributor counter clockwise 1 cog and it actually wouldn't even start after that. So I figure that I need to rotate it clockwise two cogs and then go from there.

Does that sound right to everyone if not please let me know.

Thanks,
Drew

Nope it does not sound right.

You need to simply set the timing appropriately. If you have to, rotate the engine to TDC on the compression stroke.... back it up to 7* btdc (the timing ball). The install the distributor so that #1 is exactly lined up to fire (points just closing if it is a points distributor or the spike one the shaft just lining up with the pickup if it is an electronic distributor).

Once you have figured out where the distributor needs to need to be for correct timing, rotate the oil pump by hand so that it lines up with the distributor as you install it.


Mark...

 

[cruzersoul]

I think I may have had #1 at TDC on the intake stroke instead of the compression stroke. Could that account for the problems I am having.

Thanks,
Drew

 

[IDave]

I think I may have had #1 at TDC on the intake stroke instead of the compression stroke. Could that account for the problems I am having.

Thanks,
Drew

Not as far as the oil pump goes.

 

[cruzersoul]

Am i correct in thinking that it would effect my timing if #1 cylinder is a TDC on the intake stroke?

Thanks,
Drew

 

[Pighead]

You are correct.

 

[cruzersoul]

Thanks for the help everyone !

 

[65swb45]

I have a different way of seating the dizzy to the oil pump. .... You can feel the dizzy slide down that last half inch and hear a good thunk as it seats.

Greg, it's more like an EIGHTH of an inch...on a GOOD DAY!

Does your overly imaginative sense of measurement extend to other areas as well?

;p

As Mark W. alluded, don't let the tail wag the dog. Cruisersoul, your dizzy should be of the vacuum advance type, making it all the more important that you choose the position of the distributor, align the distributor shaft accordingly, then spin the oil pump slot to match.

Best

Mark A.

 

[FJ40Jim]

The install the distributor so that #1 is exactly lined up to fire (points just [STRIKE]closing[/STRIKE] opening if it is a points distributor or the spike one the shaft just lining up with the pickup if it is an electronic distributor).

Fixed a typo.

But yeah, what he said up there.