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TR4/4A TR4 Distributer pedestal

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eyesie

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Hi
I was trying to install the distributer pedestal on my TR4. I have never seen this installed as my car was a basket case when I bought it. The pedestal should, in theory, just drop into place, however it seems like there is a couple of thou interference. I tried the pedestal on another engine with the same result. Has anyone had this issue, or have any idea as to what is happening here.

Thanks

Alan
 

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There's suppose to be a gasket/washer there (125251 as required) to adjust the distributor drive gear end float. You can find the information on that in the engine reconditioning section of the factory manual (1-130)

Scott
 
Thanks, the gasket is not the issue, The pedestal will not go in the hole.
 
No, the shaft seats fine. The pedestal won't go in even without the shaft. I was wondering if something similar is used on another vehicle. It is within thousands difference. My next step is to get some calipers on it to measure. This car was a box of bits when I got it, much to my wife's annoyance, so it makes me wonder!!!
 
After you measure it post the results and I'll compare it to mine. I'm just reassembling my '66 TR4A engine and was scratching my head over the spacer issue. I have no idea how many spacers to order and sure don't remember any when I disassembled the engine 30-years ago!
 
That stuff is all cast iron, so I kinda doubt if it bent. My experience is that they are tight and with paint or a bur they stop cold and naturally forcing it too much is unsettling. It sounds like you tried everything, but again I would clean all matting surfaces free from paint and whatever and clean with 400grit and see. You might have to get another one off EBay just to see. Sometimes when you see regular sells on there you can email them and ask if they have one and Marv often has parts coming and going.
 
I re-tried the pedestal in the original TR4 block, and it fits , with a slight tap, apparently as it is supposed to. I measured the bore on the engine that is causing the issue, from a TR4A it is a few thou out of round. I have decided to have the pedestal taken down a minimal amount to correct it.
 
I have mentioned previously that this car came as a box of bits, so I have not seen the parts that came with it assembled. I have just had my distributor rebuilt, when I came to install it, the distributor shaft is a larger diameter, by about 15 thou, than the hole in the pedestal. Could this pedestal have been used on a different model? It seems most strange.
 
Fwiw:

Geo identified my distributor shaft actually started life in a '72 Sprite,( rather than my '60 TR3A), by a serial # on the unit, he spotted on a pic I posted.

maybe yours has a sn?
 
I had the same problem.
I've just fixed it. The problem is that the oil pump drive slot is in the wrong position in relation to the camshaft gear that drives it.
The slot in the oil pump drive needs to be in the correct position to the cog on the camshaft that drives the geared shaft.
We removed the shaft, and turned the oil pump drive a few millimetres with a screw driver and the shaft dropped in a couple of millimetres.
You have to turn the oil pump drive independantly of the motor.
We then lined up TDC and made sure the shaft, pump and dizzie were all in sync.

I'm that little bit closer to getting the little guy back on the road.
 
The service manual asks for .003-.007" float. Instead of a half inch washer, a machine bushing (washer) will have flat and parallel faces. I got paper shims from Moss, each .005". The problem was the ID of the shims were about .060" under size. If you put the shims on the block, when you put the pedestal on, you get a bad smash of paper. Put the shims on the pedestal first to know they will fit and if not, trim the ID of the shim. What the float with smashed shims is : Who knows?
 
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