HEi wont drop - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

jpabberton · 01-13-2008, 02:51 PM

My new Mallory HEI won't drop.

I marked where the old one came out on the fire wall, put the new one in, but it won't drop. It does drop about 1" cw but I don't think thats correct. I bumped the motor by rocking the truck back and forth (mostly back). Its moved ccw about 90 degrees and now I'm confused and frustrated.

It should only go in two ways correct? I don't want to find #1 TDC unless I have to because I have no one to help.

Suggestions?

71swb4x4 · 01-13-2008, 02:55 PM

Working on a 4x4 is always tough with that distributor right up against the firewall. If you can, climb up there with a flashlight and see where the oil pump rod is. If youo have a long screwdriver you can turn the oil pump rod to match where you have the distributor. It will go in, you just have to get the distributor and the oil pump rod to match up.

jpabberton · 01-13-2008, 03:01 PM

What if its off a tooth? Will it still go in?

**jaros44sr** · 01-13-2008, 03:16 PM

Yes, and then your timing will be off. I didnt have anything to turn the oil pump shaft, so I took off the drive gear on my old dizzy and used that to turn the shaft. Simply drive out the roll pin with a punch of the right diameter and your good to go.

I had a problem dropping in my Accel dual point, seems the cam drive gear was a different size(slightly) measured everything like four times and couldn't find it. So, I used the gear from my old dizzy and it dropped right in. Still don't know what the problem was, but the accel is in the engine so I don't care

71swb4x4 · 01-13-2008, 03:26 PM

I put my motor at TDC for #1. Then I put the distributor at #1. Then I line the oil pump shaft up with that. Then I back the distributor off a little, so when I drop it in and the cam gear engages it turns it back to #1, and lines it back up with the oil pump shaft.
It may not be the 100% correct way to do it, but it seems to work well for me.

jpabberton · 01-13-2008, 03:46 PM

I got it to drop with a few bumps of the starter. Now we'll see in a few hours if its correct.

Thanks for the help.

Sinister · 01-13-2008, 03:52 PM

I try to get the slot in the oil pump shaft pointing at the #7 intake valve.
Also a remote starter switch is a real help at getting to TDC. The rotor will turn about 45 degrees because of the helical gear on the cam. So you want to start with the rotor 45* counterclockwise of where you want it to end up.
This is out of a book on building SBC's and it just happens to work.
Good luck with it...

01-13-2008, 02:55 PM	#2
71swb4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Brookings, SD Posts: 10,497	Re: HEi wont drop Working on a 4x4 is always tough with that distributor right up against the firewall. If you can, climb up there with a flashlight and see where the oil pump rod is. If youo have a long screwdriver you can turn the oil pump rod to match where you have the distributor. It will go in, you just have to get the distributor and the oil pump rod to match up. __________________ Some people are like slinkies, they aren't good for anything, but you can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs.

01-13-2008, 03:01 PM	#3
jpabberton madcow Join Date: May 2004 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 86	Re: HEi wont drop What if its off a tooth? Will it still go in? __________________ _____________________________________________ 1970 SWB 4x4 350 4 speed Factory AC

01-13-2008, 03:16 PM	#4
jaros44sr Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Philadelphia, Pa. 19454 Posts: 9,704	Re: HEi wont drop Yes, and then your timing will be off. I didnt have anything to turn the oil pump shaft, so I took off the drive gear on my old dizzy and used that to turn the shaft. Simply drive out the roll pin with a punch of the right diameter and your good to go. I had a problem dropping in my Accel dual point, seems the cam drive gear was a different size(slightly) measured everything like four times and couldn't find it. So, I used the gear from my old dizzy and it dropped right in. Still don't know what the problem was, but the accel is in the engine so I don't care __________________ Semper Fi...Uncle Sam, you da man All parts offered to help are free, unless otherwise noted Dont try this stuff in my build thread, unless you have 55 years of mechanical OTJ training SAFETY FIRST AS usual, off topic They say your mind goes second, can't remember the first Jim

01-13-2008, 03:26 PM	#5
71swb4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Brookings, SD Posts: 10,497	Re: HEi wont drop I put my motor at TDC for #1. Then I put the distributor at #1. Then I line the oil pump shaft up with that. Then I back the distributor off a little, so when I drop it in and the cam gear engages it turns it back to #1, and lines it back up with the oil pump shaft. It may not be the 100% correct way to do it, but it seems to work well for me. __________________ Some people are like slinkies, they aren't good for anything, but you can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs.

01-13-2008, 03:46 PM	#6
jpabberton madcow Join Date: May 2004 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 86	Re: HEi wont drop I got it to drop with a few bumps of the starter. Now we'll see in a few hours if its correct. Thanks for the help. __________________ _____________________________________________ 1970 SWB 4x4 350 4 speed Factory AC

01-13-2008, 02:51 PM	#1
jpabberton madcow Join Date: May 2004 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 86	HEi wont drop My new Mallory HEI won't drop. I marked where the old one came out on the fire wall, put the new one in, but it won't drop. It does drop about 1" cw but I don't think thats correct. I bumped the motor by rocking the truck back and forth (mostly back). Its moved ccw about 90 degrees and now I'm confused and frustrated. It should only go in two ways correct? I don't want to find #1 TDC unless I have to because I have no one to help. Suggestions? __________________ _____________________________________________ 1970 SWB 4x4 350 4 speed Factory AC

01-13-2008, 03:52 PM	#7
Sinister Between Trucks... Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA. Posts: 3,830	Re: HEi wont drop I try to get the slot in the oil pump shaft pointing at the #7 intake valve. Also a remote starter switch is a real help at getting to TDC. The rotor will turn about 45 degrees because of the helical gear on the cam. So you want to start with the rotor 45* counterclockwise of where you want it to end up. This is out of a book on building SBC's and it just happens to work. Good luck with it... __________________ Beat it to fit, Paint it to match...

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