Distibutor too short?

[dwelf]

i jst bought a new long block 1993 4.3 from michiganmotorz and installed it in my rinker 186. I have changed many engines before but this is the first time i have bought one. The didtributor wont reach the oil pump shaft. This is a first for me. This is the original distributor. It is like an inch short. Did the manufacturer screw up and put too short of a shaft on the long block? I did not take the oil pan off and look at anything as it was sealed already. I cant believe i busted my butt 2 days and got the engine in the boat and have no oil pressure. I primed it with my tool and drill...the pump works fine. my distributor just wont reach... Is there an extender? a longer distributor? I am at a lost for words. I have dont this many times. Any siggestion?

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Distibutor too short?

I am wondering if the intake manifold is higher than the original and therefore the distributor is sitting up higher. If you have the old block, perhaps you can compare block and manifold numbers to see where there are differences.

I think in the final analysis you will be getting another distributor.

 

[Don S]

Re: Distibutor too short?

Call Michigan Motorz and explain your problem. The distributors are all the same length and the oil pump rod is the same length. Perhaps the retainer between the oil pump and the extension shaft is missing.

 

[dwelf]

Re: Distibutor too short?

Thanks Don... Trust me, they willl be hearing from me today... Here is what I think happened.. A young tech who put this engine together just grabbed a shaft off of the pile thinking they are all the same zize and 99% of them are. Chevy did use one a lil over half inch shorter a few years in the 60s. Knowing that they get their parts from junk yards I am putting 2 and 2 together.. The long block did not come with an intake, it is the original intake off my boat so I know it is correct. I cant believe this.. I shined the flash light down the hole and sure enough that shaft between oil pump and dist is shiny.. The orig and every other one I have ever seen is black.. I can tell by looking at it that it is the problem. Here is another guy that had the same problem..on a car though. Michiganmotorz waranty covers workmanship... I wonder if it covers stupidity. It will be interesting to see what their excuse is and how they will reimburse for my time. My warranty says 650 for labor in a reinstall for workmanship and 50 for lost fluids and gaskets.. See of they live up to it.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=320734

 

[dwelf]

Re: Distibutor too short?

Upon further review Michigan motorz put on the wrong oil pump certified by a loca speed shop.I put on the right one and am boating although braking in a new engine.I am not done with them yet though for this bs