Oldguard 7

Recently I bought a new distributor and put it in the block. I have a chrome distributor holddown clamp and when I put the bolt on it, the bolt does not screw down all the way to the head. So this leads me to the question, Is there a gasket or a flat washer that goes in between the engine block and the base og the distributor? I was reading Super Chevy magazine and in an engine rebuild article there was a picture of a gasket that fit in between the block and the base of the distributor.


[Modified by Oldguard 7, 2:51 PM 9/25/2003]

Stewart's74

Yes, there is a gasket. How many threads off is the bolt? You can always get a shorter one.

GDaina

gasket is used only to seal against oil leaks, nothing more....get a shorter bolt, or file the one you have

KenSny

Gastets can be had from NAPA and the major parts stores - very cheap.

bigvette1

Since you put in a new distributor put in the gasket and then check real close to feel if the dist. is tight and the hold down clamp is securing it to the intake manifold. The new clamp may not be formed like the old or may not be going as far into the collar as the old. After this check to see if the dist. can be tightened securly, not crunched. A new dist. may not have the same length diminsion from the oil pump drive to the collar on the manifold. Manufacturing tolerances vary on the thickness and placement of the collar. We are talking only about .030 to 070" in gap distance. If it does not timing will wander around a couple of degrees and you can feel movement up and down in the dist.

Two fixes - two gaskets or get the shim pack that Mr. Gasket sells. But watch the wear on the gear.

Fevre

I am using an ARP stud with a nut, no worries of a bolt bottoming out. You can get a stud at the local hardware, no need for an ARP one but mine came with the ARP eng bolt kit I bought.