Distributor install issues lyb
 

Trying to get a distributor installed in my Lincoln y block. It's wicked tight. Bottom of the shaft won't go into the hole where it connects with the oil pump shaft. It came out of a 60 fyb 292 motor and I changed the gear on the shaft. I did mushroom the end getting the gear off but ground it down. If the shaft is supposed to turn, there has to be some clearance in there. What should I do? Thought about holding the distributor body in a vise and turn the shaft with a drill while holding sandpaper on the shaft slowly taking some metal off it evenly until it goes in the hole. Ideas???

Re: Distributor install issues lyb
 

Sometimes on engines, I've had the gears aligned but the distributer won't drop that last bit onto the oil pump shaft. With the gears started I use a remote starter switch and crank the engine while pushing down on the distributor. withing a couple revolution it will drop down onto the shaft. I don't know if your problem is the shaft is not lined up or you screwed up the end of it.

Re: Distributor install issues lyb
 

I don't even have the oil pump or shaft in. Wanted to be sure that wasn't the problem. I just thought a digital caliper so I could measure the original distributor shaft against the new one but being a holiday I haven't gotten to it yet. I remember it was difficult getting the old one out. Just so I know, the shaft has to be able to turn in that hole, right? So there has to be some clearance and it must get lubrication somehow.

Re: Distributor install issues lyb
 

No shaft would definitely eliminate the oil pump shaft as the problem. You hate to grind away on it becuae if you end up with too much clearance it could affect your point gap. I'm not a Y-block guy. What's that shaft go into, the block, oil pump... Could it be something like a misaligned oil pump.

I forget I do have a Y-block I could look at. I bought a complete "F" motor in pieces with everything but the crank and crank pulley. Lots of new spare parts. McColloch dual carb bonnet setup for the supercharger. I cannot even find a photo of one like it. That missing pulley seems to be non-existent. I bought the engine from a 90-year-old neighbor. The rebuilt heads have the correct supercharged casting numbers on them. The guy he bought it from had it as a spare for a '57 supercharged T-bird he dragged raced in the early 1960s. I need to see if it has a "F" vin stamped on the block but I pretty sure it will. I paid a whopping $1600.00 for all of it. I also bought a rebuilt Boss 302 engine with an inline crossboss 4V carb and 427 side oiler built completely from NOS parts from the same neighbor. I got the good friend and neighbor discount.

Re: Distributor install issues lyb
 

The shaft goes to not a small hole that the oil pump shaft goes up through. With nothing in the hole, the dist should've been able to just slide into. Trying to get a measurement from the original distributor and make the new one the same. I tried the old one again and it slid right in. Will be busy tomorrow

Re: Distributor install issues lyb
 

Ford didn't put the vin / serial number on the Y-blocks in '57. Maybe later in the 60's for the factory Hi-Po mustangs & such.

If it has markings as being for a '57 supercharged / F-code engine it might be possible???

Re: Distributor install issues lyb
 

Kind of OT for this thread. But that missing crank pulley is probably available, along with other parts. Just the brackets and stuff for an F code bird are really valuable, there’s the odd F code out there missing all those parts.

I’ve got an F code clone using passenger car brackets in my 32 Ford. I had, but sold, the Thunderbird brackets. I’ve still got a VR 57 unit on the shelf.

I’ve seen the dual quad bonnets, but the ones I saw were McCulloch parts used with the VS series units.

If you want more info, pm me. I’ve got some contact info that might be useful.

Nice find. Some pictures of all those items would make a nice thread.

Re: Distributor install issues lyb
 

Didn't you transfer the gear from your Lincoln distributor on to the FYB distributor? If so the shafts should be exactly the same diameter and therefore fit the hole in the block.

Re: Distributor install issues lyb
 

The bottom of the shaft is smaller than the part of the shaft that the gear fits on. That's the part that isn't fitting in the hole. Again, how does it get lubrication? If because it was mushroomed out, would it hurt if just the end was ground in a little taper to allow it to fit in the hole?

Re: Distributor install issues lyb
 

Will the boy ever learn ... :confused:

Re: Distributor install issues lyb
 

I finally got it in but now the gears up against some set screw looking thing. It looks like it's going into the lifter on 8 cylinder. The distributor is about 1/2 - 3/4" away from being all the way in but it just won't go. I thought the gear might go beneath the screw and spin but it won't. What now?

Re: Distributor install issues lyb
 

B-ster, is the original distributor missing? or I'd assume you could have it rebuilt instead of installing a stubborn substitute.

Re: Distributor install issues lyb
 

I wanted to be able to get whatever carb I want so that's why I'm changing the distributor.

Re: Distributor install issues lyb
 

Ok, got it. You're replacing the older Loadomatic version with an updated '57+ distributor.

Re: Distributor install issues lyb
 

Yeah. My Lincoln is a 54, distributor is outta 60 Ford 292

Re: Distributor install issues lyb
 

Isn't that an oil galley plug that the gear is hitting? If so, you'll need to either screw it in a bit or shorten it to get clearance for the gear to go by. Access could be a problem....


Terry

Re: Distributor install issues lyb
 

Yeah, clearance is an issue. There is a plug in the block across from the plug I need to get to. If I knew what the head of the plug I need to screw in is, I could get an angled screwdriver. If I can't get to it that way, I'll have to remove the plug in the block to get to it. It's been sealed so I'd prefer not to remove it. I tried to take pictures of it with my phone but can't get an angle.

Re: Distributor install issues lyb
 

That plug probably has a square recess on top, or maybe it is a hex key recess, but I doubt it. Probably square. See if you can find a piece of 1/4 inch square bar stock and stick it in there. If that fits, you can take a little 1/4" open-end wrench and turn that plug in. May need to fiddle around with different sizes to get the right one.

Re: Distributor install issues lyb
 

'Ya know ... Instead of all of the guessing, maybe break out the WSM and see how that fitting is supposed to be installed. It lubricates the DIST DRIVE.

The machine shop may have had something to do with this.

Re: Distributor install issues lyb
 

Kultulz, if the wsm is the manual, I looked but couldn't find it. I have a call into my mechanic too. But if you know id appreciate ur input

Re: Distributor install issues lyb
 

Ok. So I removed the plug in the outside of the block so I can access the oil galley plug that feeds oil to the distributor gear. I tried tightening it so the gear will clear it but it was bottomed out so I removed it. I talked to my mechanic and he told me that if it's too far out that I can grind the back of it down making it go further into the block giving me clearance to install the distributor. I ground about 1/4" off the back, leaving 1/4" to screw in. That plug now won't go in but two turns and stops abruptly. I tried using a tap but it goes too far in before starting to clean up the threads and hits the lifter. So now I have a 1/4" plug still sticking out interfering with the distributor gear. i don't know if this was the original plug or not, nor do I know if maybe it's supposed to be tapered so it'll go in further. I could bring off the front of it, leaving enough of the Allen head to still screw it in and use thread lock. But it just seems like this isn't the right plug . It does have a hole in it with a star pattern so it looks right
If anyone knows the dimensions of the oil galley plug for a lyb 54, and what I need to do to get this problem resolved, please let me know. it's been one thing after another. Thanks

Re: Distributor install issues lyb
 

That plug is TAPERED THREAD. If you grind the end it is still going to only go into the hole so far. If that is the only plug of that size you have, the hole needs to be deepened with the correct NPT TAP so as to allow it to go in further. Make sure it does not contact the tappet in the tappet bore.

When you had the plug out, did it have an orifice to pass oil?

Take the plug and try to ID it by the sizing chart. I found listing for plugs in the MPC but the descriptions are not concise.

Can you take a photo of and post? Did the machine shop say anything about the plug?

Below are some charts to ID NPT SIZES -

Re: Distributor install issues lyb
 

It has a star shaped hole in the middle of it. I figured if I had removed the back end of the plug it would still go in the same amount as the taper would allow it to. I don't suppose there's a place to look up the part number. I know you did put on some info. That -4 looks like the right size. There's not much info in the manual, actually none to refer to. That's why I'm asking on here. I know there's someone that has removed or installed one and can let me know what it is. I really believe it has to go in until it's flush. And there's only maybe four threads in there

Re: Distributor install issues lyb
 

AGAIN ...

Did the machine shop assemble the engine? You say the LOM DIST was difficult to remove?

Re: Distributor install issues lyb
 

My mechanic said he put the plug all the way in and he didn't think about the gear clearance. He said he has shorter ones so I don't know if this is the original one. Here's a few pics

Re: Distributor install issues lyb
 

Where?

Who actually assembled the engine? Was the fitting removed to tank the block? If he installed the DIST, why didn't he mentioned having trouble installing?

Re: Distributor install issues lyb
 

Yes, he removed it to tank the block and he didn't install the distributor. I did. I ground the front of the plug and installed it. The distributor went in no problem.

Re: Distributor install issues lyb
 

OK, let's try this again. The old DIST came out easily during tear-down? The re-builder did not re-install the OEM LOAD-O-MATIC DIST but you attempted to install a 1960 FYB DIST with the LYB DIST GEAR and this gear interferes with the fitting? How badly was the FYB DIST SHAFT damaged when trying to take the gear off?

CORRECTION -

You removed the LYB DIST GEAR and put it on the FYB DIST.

Are both of the DIST GEARS the same dia.?

Where are the photos of the fitting?

Re: Distributor install issues lyb
 

Yes, the load I matic dist was very difficult removing. I took it out and my mechanic did not have a distributor to install. I found the 60 fyb distributor and swapped gears. The bottom of the shaft was a little mushroomed that's why another shop swapped gears. The gears are the same diameter. Using sandpaper and a drill I took the mushroom off. All is good with it now

Re: Distributor install issues lyb
 

Are you saying the DIST slides in now?

Re: Distributor install issues lyb
 

Yes. It slides in. I posted that a few posts ago.

Re: Distributor install issues lyb
 

If anyone needs the PN of this plug in a future SEARCH, it is FORD STANDARD PN 87837-S.

Below is the PART DESCRIPTION in the 1952-54 LINC CHASSIS PARTS CATALOG -

Re: Distributor install issues lyb
 

I found the intermediate shaft is a little bit too long. There's no problem cutting a half inch off the bottom of it is there?

Re: Distributor install issues lyb
 

Are you asking about part of the distributor shaft that engages the oil pump drive shaft???

Re: Distributor install issues lyb
 

It's the shaft under the distributor shaft and goes into the oil pump

Re: Distributor install issues lyb
 

Not being sure which one you have (similar to the hex shaped shaft in a '55+ Y-block?) my opinion would be to trim it as little as possible.
Just enough so it isn't too tight.
Having it come undone while running & driving would of course be very bad. (but you knew that)
Measure 3 or 4 times, cut once.
.

Re: Distributor install issues lyb
 

Here we go -

Can you give me the DIST. ID NO. off the DUAL ADVANCE DIST you are planning to use?

Re: Distributor install issues lyb
 

I was wondering what you meant about an intermediate shaft. Now I know.

The 1952-1954 LYB used a tang-drive DIST as did the 1954 FYB 239CI.

To use a later DUAL ADVANCE DIST (LINC/MERC LYB) you are going to have to change the oil pump to a later hex drive style.

Re: Distributor install issues lyb
 

I have changed them all out and have the hex drive shaft. It's too long and I was looking for advice on which end is better to cut off and technique. Where's that sliding washer supposed to be located?

Re: Distributor install issues lyb
 

How am I going to get myself out of this one ...

The oil pump on your engine will not accept the hex drive shaft. You will most likely have to replace the oil pump with a later model (1957/ ) to use the later DUAL ADVANCE DIST and drive.