Most likely it isnt lining up with the oil pump!

You may need to turn the oil pump a little at a time with a screw driver until the distributer seats all the way down!

Its a PITA!!

 

This is the first thing I would try.

 

Bump the key without the power wire to the coil and see if it drop's.

 

Will do.
I'm scared that my off-shore (Weiand) intake might have been machined incorrectly or something stupid like that...
Everything was going way too smooth.

 

Turn it with a screwdriver

 

so 1/8 inch can be the oil pump shaft alignment??

 

last time a dist didnt drop in the guy had the gear upside down, im sure you got it on right but ya it was an entertaining thread....like evryone else said get a flashlight and line up the oil pump

 

Could be a difference in the surface heights between the 2 intakes for the dizzy.You may need these:

Distributor shims from Jegs:
part #'s 555-40082
720-6059
720-26150

 

That's what I probably need.
Can't imagine the oil pump shaft not being aligned with only 1/8 inch to go.
Thanks,
Jim

 

I have an old distributor that I tore apart and machined the end to fit in a drill for priming. I'll try that first to move the pump shaft, or you could cheat and put steady pressure down on the dist (not alot), and have somebody bump the key and it should drop right into place. I would try both of these ideas before I bought any shims..

 

I had same problem when I went from Torker 2 to a wiend stealth. Bout a 1/16 difference. I just used a second gasket. Have'nt had a problem yet. Not great machine work I guess.

 

IF the distributor is actually bottomed on the pump shaft ,it's not a good idea to use the gaskets to lift it.
Those gaskets are compressible and can cause the distributor shaft to jam the oil pump driven gear to be forced down in the pump ,dragging on the plate.
Find/make a solid spacer (or the metal shims above) that'll hold the distributor up above the 1/8" or so that your seeing.
You want some clearance so it's not bottoming on the pump drive shaft.
This is assuming that it is a difference in the 2 manifolds and not just the gear hanging on the pump drive shaft.

 

I found some shims locally (Moroso). Had to use .180 before the distributor would seat. I had it in and out about 47 times it seems but thta's what it took. I put the clamp on on it semi-tight and turned the enging slowly with a pull bar and didn't hear anything bust or pop so I guess I'm ok...I'll know when I crank it and have oil pressure etc. The pump shaft is a hardened Melling shaft that does with my pump so it's not like the nylon collar type on a stock pump/shaft.
Fun stuff. (sarcasim)