camshaft gear/distributor gear

[jmshanno@xxxxxxx]

Hello,

I have found some useful information in the archives on this subject, but I just won't be satisfied until I whine about my own problem.....

I recently rebuilt a 401.  I ran it on a dyno and then put it in the car and drove it one day before I heard a piston knock. So I pulled the motor back apart and found a number of issues.  First, the camshaft gear that drives the distributor gear was damn near eaten away.  There was a lot of metal missing. The distributor gear was still in pretty good shape.  Both gears I ordered brand new from American Parts Depot.  The distributor is a new Mallory Unilite.  When I put the distributor in, it sure was a major pain - really tight. I didn't think too much of it at the time.  Well it appears that they were misaligned in some way.  Now I have major scoring on some of my cylinders and piston skirts and the wrist pins are dang near seized up.  Did the metal from this gear cause this?  All my bearings actually look pretty good - a few scratches here and there, but nothing major.  Something seems fishy......

Are there any tricks for making sure these two gears are lining up/compatible?  Should the distributor just drop into place easily?  Won't there be non-exact and non-repeatable clearances when torquing down an aluminum timing cover with a gasket involved?

Thanks,
Jeremy Shannon
1970 AMX

 

  

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