Correct Distributor Shaft Lengths

[CS]

I am currently trying to get a better fit between the distributor and head. Right now the index pin won’t set in the hole and it appears that the height of my distributor shafts account for the difference. I have read that in the past there were aftermarket shafts that were a little too long and that the fix was to grind them down to the correct size. I have recently purchased my 30 Tudor and given the number of metric nuts and other oddities I have found there may be a good chance that my distributor shafts could be non-standard as well.

My upper shaft is 4 1/2 inches and the lower is 5 3/4 inches. How do these compare to normal? I have checked all of the parts catalogs and no one is specifying the shaft lengths. I am hoping the lower should be closer to 5 1/2 and I can just get a new one of those.

[Brentwood Bob]

Could be the block has been decked, or the head shaved.
Will measure the shafts in the morning.

[bbrocksr]

Originally Posted by CS

I am currently trying to get a better fit between the distributor and head. Right now the index pin won’t set in the hole and it appears that the height of my distributor shafts account for the difference. I have read that in the past there were aftermarket shafts that were a little too long and that the fix was to grind them down to the correct size. I have recently purchased my 30 Tudor and given the number of metric nuts and other oddities I have found there may be a good chance that my distributor shafts could be non-standard as well.

My upper shaft is 4 1/2 inches and the lower is 5 3/4 inches. How do these compare to normal? I have checked all of the parts catalogs and no one is specifying the shaft lengths. I am hoping the lower should be closer to 5 1/2 and I can just get a new one of those.

Shorten the lower shaft by grinding and filing or milling if you can until the dist. sets down flush with a little end play in the upper shaft.
If you buy a new shaft it will probably be too long also.
Like Bob says the block and head have probably been milled lowering the mounting surface.
Bill

[midgetracer]

Make sure that the distributor will set into the head correctly without the lower shaft to be sure that the problem is the lower shaft and not just the fitment into the index pin hole.

[Tom Wesenberg]

I've had to thin the alignment blade on the new shaft, so it would tuck into the slot of the other shaft. The blade was a hair too thick, and it only took a few strokes using a MILL file. No big deal to get a nice fit.


Can you feel the alignment tab engage the slot and drop down?
Also make sure the pocket in the head is clean, so the distributor peg fits.

[MickeyT]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I'm with Tom on this. My new lower shaft was preventing the dist. from dropping down on to the pin and it was a too tight fit. A bit of cleaning with a file and everything dropped right into place.

[CS]

Thanks for all the info. When I set the distributor assembly back in place with the lower shaft removed it sits just fine and flush with the head so the issue is with the shaft lengths or fit. The fit between the top and bottom shafts look ok so I think it is a length issue. I'll do some shortening of the bottom shaft and see if that gets things in the right place.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Chief, my Dad, once said, "I've cut it off TWICE & it's still TOO SHORT"???
Bill W.

[CS]

...

[SteveB31]

After 90 years, nearly every block and head has been decked, making the shafts appear to be too long, causing the problem you have. Grind a bit off each end of the Center ( lower) shaft and possibly a little off of the tab on the upper shaft.

[CS]

I ended up shaving a bit of the lower shaft and extending the slot and now everything fits fine. Hopefully when I get the ignition system back together this weekend it will fire up correctly and I won’t find out that I cut too much.