The Ford Barn

3twinridges · 11-10-2022, 09:45 PM

I restored an 0ba distributor a few months back. I was setting the vacuum springs on the sun machine and twisted off an adjustment tang. The shaft had end play past the specs, so while I had it taken apart to replace the breaker plate I am replacing the shaft with a new one. I am going to need to drill the shaft for the collar and the gear. I think this needs to be a pretty precise drill operation to catch the holes on both sides of the collar and gear. Any advice on the setup I should try? I have a drill press.

JB

cadillac512 · 11-10-2022, 10:27 PM

Don't you just drill 90 degrees from the old drillings after placing the gear and collar where you need them? New holes,new pins and done. That's the way I've always done modern stuff anyway.

cas3 · 11-11-2022, 01:26 AM

If you have a set of transfer punches, I would pick out the size that fits thru the gear, place it in the chuck and clamp the gear in the vise with the punch thru the hole to find center. Clamp or bolt the vise to the table, Then get the shaft thru without moving the gear, and drill. Hillbilly machining.

3twinridges · 11-11-2022, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cas3

If you have a set of transfer punches, I would pick out the size that fits thru the gear, place it in the chuck and clamp the gear in the vise with the punch thru the hole to find center. Clamp or bolt the vise to the table, Then get the shaft thru without moving the gear, and drill. Hillbilly machining.

Agreed and good thoughts on the collar, will do that. It is the gear I am not sure about since it is a press fit.

JB

cas3 · 11-11-2022, 12:44 PM

It might be a good excuse to get a good X Y vise for your drill press. Would be more accurate than moving the vise around on the table

5851a · 11-11-2022, 02:43 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I've done the same as Cadillac512 on modern. Think that was recommended by Ford, but only allowed 1 replacement, then needed new gear and shaft. Last gear and shaft I bought from Ford for 70's, neither had the hole drilled.

tubman · 11-11-2022, 03:01 PM

A related question. I may need to do this one day (drill an SBC shaft to accommodate a flathead gear). I assume that the shafts are quite hard; what kind of a drill bit will work?

cadillac512 · 11-11-2022, 11:20 PM

The shaft isn't very hard...a good quality bit will do the job just fine. Drill press is recommended of course, but not mandatory.

69a · 11-12-2022, 12:22 AM

The shaft isn't hard. I have done several SBC's.
Press the gear on to the correct position. I do this last. With the correct size drill, drill into the shaft about 1/8" deep from both sides. Then go down 1/16" undersize and drill from both sides. Then repeat with the correct size drill. Mark the gear and shaft with a punch or file, so that if you ever need to take the gear off you don't get it 180 degrees out.
It doesn't need to be 100% accurate. It's really to prevent the gear slipping.
You will need to tape up the thrust washers on SBC to keep the swarf out.

3twinridges · 11-12-2022, 07:58 AM

I drilled the collar but it must have slid back slightly as now I have too much end play again. I used a 0.005 paper piece for my feeler and it didn’t work like I thought it would. What are the thoughts on using a metal shim washer between the distributor body and collar to set the right end play?

JB

cas3 · 11-12-2022, 10:21 AM

Most dizzy's have a brass or fiber washer between the gear and the body if thats the direction of the thrust

11-10-2022, 09:45 PM	#1
3twinridges Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 550	0ba distributor shaft I restored an 0ba distributor a few months back. I was setting the vacuum springs on the sun machine and twisted off an adjustment tang. The shaft had end play past the specs, so while I had it taken apart to replace the breaker plate I am replacing the shaft with a new one. I am going to need to drill the shaft for the collar and the gear. I think this needs to be a pretty precise drill operation to catch the holes on both sides of the collar and gear. Any advice on the setup I should try? I have a drill press. JB

11-10-2022, 10:27 PM	#2
cadillac512 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Kansas Posts: 937	Re: 0ba distributor shaft Don't you just drill 90 degrees from the old drillings after placing the gear and collar where you need them? New holes,new pins and done. That's the way I've always done modern stuff anyway. __________________ "It don't take but country smarts to solve the problem" (Smokey Yunick) '41 Merc Town Sedan / 260" 8CM engine '66 Fairlane four door / "warmed up" 302

11-11-2022, 01:26 AM	#3
cas3 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: sw minnesota Posts: 4,584	Re: 0ba distributor shaft If you have a set of transfer punches, I would pick out the size that fits thru the gear, place it in the chuck and clamp the gear in the vise with the punch thru the hole to find center. Clamp or bolt the vise to the table, Then get the shaft thru without moving the gear, and drill. Hillbilly machining.

11-11-2022, 12:44 PM	#5
cas3 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: sw minnesota Posts: 4,584	Re: 0ba distributor shaft It might be a good excuse to get a good X Y vise for your drill press. Would be more accurate than moving the vise around on the table

11-11-2022, 02:43 PM	#6
5851a Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: NE Iowa Posts: 1,666	Re: 0ba distributor shaft Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I've done the same as Cadillac512 on modern. Think that was recommended by Ford, but only allowed 1 replacement, then needed new gear and shaft. Last gear and shaft I bought from Ford for 70's, neither had the hole drilled.

11-11-2022, 03:01 PM	#7
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,334	Re: 0ba distributor shaft A related question. I may need to do this one day (drill an SBC shaft to accommodate a flathead gear). I assume that the shafts are quite hard; what kind of a drill bit will work?

11-11-2022, 11:20 PM	#8
cadillac512 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Kansas Posts: 937	Re: 0ba distributor shaft The shaft isn't very hard...a good quality bit will do the job just fine. Drill press is recommended of course, but not mandatory. __________________ "It don't take but country smarts to solve the problem" (Smokey Yunick) '41 Merc Town Sedan / 260" 8CM engine '66 Fairlane four door / "warmed up" 302

11-12-2022, 12:22 AM	#9
69a Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2020 Posts: 147	Re: 0ba distributor shaft The shaft isn't hard. I have done several SBC's. Press the gear on to the correct position. I do this last. With the correct size drill, drill into the shaft about 1/8" deep from both sides. Then go down 1/16" undersize and drill from both sides. Then repeat with the correct size drill. Mark the gear and shaft with a punch or file, so that if you ever need to take the gear off you don't get it 180 degrees out. It doesn't need to be 100% accurate. It's really to prevent the gear slipping. You will need to tape up the thrust washers on SBC to keep the swarf out.

11-12-2022, 07:58 AM	#10
3twinridges Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 550	Re: 0ba distributor shaft I drilled the collar but it must have slid back slightly as now I have too much end play again. I used a 0.005 paper piece for my feeler and it didn’t work like I thought it would. What are the thoughts on using a metal shim washer between the distributor body and collar to set the right end play? JB

11-12-2022, 10:21 AM	#11
cas3 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: sw minnesota Posts: 4,584	Re: 0ba distributor shaft Most dizzy's have a brass or fiber washer between the gear and the body if thats the direction of the thrust