TR4/4A Silly Distributor Mounting Question

[ghawk16]

Been a loooong while since I took my distributor out of my pedestal (think 2002) so the pictures I have aren't very clear. Can someone confirm that the clamp that goes around the distributor shaft does NOT sit flush with the pedestal? If I put the clamp on the distributor and then slide the distributor (freshly rebuilt by Advanced Distributors...great to deal with!) down the pedestal there is roughly a 1/4" gap. I would then put the two lock washers on with nuts and lightly tighten them, correct? I'm actually more worried about the gap between clamp and pedestal. Thanks

 

[poolboy]

If it's anything like a TR6 the clamp must be flat with no gap. Do not force it or use nuts to draw it down...Something is mis aligned.
Again..this is based on the similarity with a TR6, so hold off until a TR4 guy pops up.

 

[Marvin Gruber]

Same way, flush. Take the clamp off, remove bolt. Cafefully with a large screwdriver open the slot ( between where bolt slides thru). Then check to see that it fits around the distr groove. With it still inplace, fit it to the engine. You will have to spin it around to match up.
Marv

 

[ghawk16]

Marvin,

Maybe I'm using the wrong part names in the first post, but my clamp fits flush on to the distributor no problem. It's when I insert the distributor into the block and I've lined up the hole and slots of the distributor shaft to the cam/oil pump shaft. The clamp that goes around the pedestal does not sit flush to the pedestal piece that has the speedometer connection and the two studs with nuts that hold down the distributor along with clamp.

Same way, flush. Take the clamp off, remove bolt. Cafefully with a large screwdriver open the slot ( between where bolt slides thru). Then check to see that it fits around the distr groove. With it still inplace, fit it to the engine. You will have to spin it around to match up.
Marv

 

[2liter4cyl]

This may be silly, but the pin that drives the oil pump is not centered on the shaft. It must be on the radiator side of center to fit. Then drop it down until the dist has its proper place. By the way, shims must be used to get a free fit with the oil pump.

Le T.

 

[poolboy]

When the distributor was out, did you remove the pedestal for any reason ?

 

[ghawk16]

Yes, the engine was completely tore down, cleaned, rebuilt, etc. But what Le T. says before I didn't notice. I have my engine at TDC and the way the rotor is pointing is close to where it should be at TDC. Only thing I can think of is when I shipped my distributor for rebuild he used a different one (not my original) and the round part of the shaft is a TAD bigger than my gear? Doubtful...but possible? But can the gear be put in 180? I would think the round hole would still be in the center as well as the tabs on the bottom of the distributor that go into the gear. Going to have to take another look in a bit. Meanwhile, pictures to show how high it sits.

When the distributor was out, did you remove the pedestal for any reason ?

 

[ghawk16]

Shims? I tested the float of the gear with the bushing and was in spec. Then used a very thin packing washer between the pedestal and block. It game with all different sizes.

This may be silly, but the pin that drives the oil pump is not centered on the shaft. It must be on the radiator side of center to fit. Then drop it down until the dist has its proper place. By the way, shims must be used to get a free fit with the oil pump.

Le T.

 

[2liter4cyl]

2 things 1. Is the oil pump properly engaged with the driving shaft?

2. All I've seen have the head of the clamp bolt on the left. You show that to be the nut. The boss where the clamp goes, for me, is about the same thickness as the clamp and the clamp is just a flat stamping. Le T.

 

[ghawk16]

You sir sorted me out with your post above. Sure enough I turned the engine and got the pin on the radiator side and it dropped right in! Crazy I didn't even see that. Now it sits nice and flush. And per your post below I did flip the clamp as the part of the clamp is raised and/or lower than the rest. Thank you!!!

2 things 1. Is the oil pump properly engaged with the driving shaft?

2. All I've seen have the head of the clamp bolt on the left. You show that to be the nut. The boss where the clamp goes, for me, is about the same thickness as the clamp and the clamp is just a flat stamping. Le T.