HOW TO:REINSTALL POINTS CAM LOBE on 49-53 Ford Distributor

[19Fordy]

Last week I posted a question on how to do this. Figured it out. Here's the answer.
Thank you to those who responded. Hope this helps someone else. A special THANK YOU to Fordbarner Tubman who sent me a detailed instructional email and to the other Fordbarners who responded to my original Post.

FIRST: Before you ever remove the points cam lobe make an alignment scratch mark on the distributor shaft and the cam lobe and you will never have this problem of figuring out where the cam lobe should go when reinstalling it.

HOW TO REINSTALL POINTS CAM LOBE ON A MALLORY MECHANICAL ADVANCE # YL 2527501 DUAL POINT DISTRIBUTOR FOR A 1953 FORD 239 CI.IN V-8 Photos attached.

Photos include .227 in. thickness of spacer made to raise distributor for proper engagement of cam gear with bottom distributor gear as this 8BA has early heads installed. OD and ID of spacer may vary depending on measurements of distributor "neck and shoulder" and timing cover. My cover is OEM cast iron.

HERE WE GO:
1. Disconnect battery
2. Turn the crankshaft nut CW with a 7/8 in. socket wrench so that the timing mark on the pulley lines up with the timing pointer on the timing cover AND the dist. Rotor points to #1 spark plug terminal on the distributor cap on the COMPRESSION STROKE.

3. Using a magic marker make a line on the top edge of the distributor housing directly in line with the position of the rotor when it’s pointing to #1 terminal of dist. cap. Also make an alignment mark on the distributer housing where in rests on the timing cover opening.

4. Remove rotor and apply a light coat of thin oil on the distributor shaft where the cam lobe fits and also to the inside hole of the cam lobe. Place the points cam lobe in position on the shaft so that the small hole in the top surface of the cam lobe aligns with the black line you just made on the dist. housing. This is the proper location for the cam to be in when #1 cylinder fires. Press down on the cam lobe with your fingers or tap it extremely lightly so that the cam won’t fall off when you remove the distributor. Notice the location of the leading (left side) and trailing point(right side) sets when the correct alignment is made. ROTOR TURNS CLOCKWISE.

5. Loosen distributor hold down bolt and carefully remove distributor. When doing this you will see the rotor move because of the helix camshaft gears.

6. Place the distributor in a bench vise that has protective jaws so as not to damage distributor housing. Be sure to rest the distributor cam gear on a small piece of wood or plastic so as not to damage it.

7. Now, gently tap on the points cam lobe making sure it is in the same position as in Step 4. To do this, place a 5/8 spark plug socket or a deep socket over the distributor shaft and on top of the points cam lobe and tap on the top of the socket with a small ball peen hammer until the cam lobe goes down and seats on the shoulder of the shaft. The sound and feel will change when it bottoms out.

8. NOW, take a scribe and make a matching scratch mark on the cam lobe and the dist. shaft to mark its location.

9. Now, reinstall the distributor in the engine so that the rotor points to #1 cylinder on the distributor cap and also aligns with the black line you made earlier on the distributor housing. The alignment marks where the distributor fits into the top of the timing cover should also line up. The distributor is now in the same position before you removed it.

10. Tighten down the distributor hold down and,make sure your plug wires and distributor cap are correctly installed according to the correct firing order.
11. Reconnect your battery
12. Start your engine and do final timing with timing light. If needed.