I'm so glad you posted this! I wrestled with my distributor for 2 hours trying to get that last step to drop down. My problem ended up being the oil pump drive shaft would always fall over, preventing the distributor from fully seating correctly. I ended up putting a glob of grease onto the end of a screwdriver, and used the grease to keep the shaft centered while I positioned the distributor. It dropped right in after that.
There is supposed to be a clip on the oil pump drive that prevents it from lifting up too far to drop out of the oil pump. It is installed from the bottom up before the oil pump is installed. Usually they are missing. I have a tool to put the drive back into the oil pump if it has not dropped into the oil pan first. Its a pain in the ass when the clip is missing.
@@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426 Hey Nick, also, the oil pump drive shaft is tapered on the end that goes towards the distributor. It is supposed to help the shaft to slide into the right place during assembly. ( at least it is on the 390 engines that I own) I had one on my 66 Mercury 390 that was installed upside down from the factory - still had the clip on it. Without the clip, the shaft could stick into the bottom of the distributor and come out of the oil pump. Pain in the ass to get it back into the pump.
If the distributor is installed correctly and the #1 piston is at TDC compression stroke, the rotor will point to #1 on the cap, roughly. It might be a hair off, this is why you can turn the distributor, to make up for this play. I have a video about installing a distributor, follow this link: th-cam.com/video/wf8Qs_8laDM/w-d-xo.htmlsi=JopikWtkBtVsNwr6 good luck
The cap can only go on the distributor one way because of the notch on the edge. Once you have the cap on, you can determine that #1 will be roughly in the 2 o'clock area. Look at my video and look at your cap and you can then see where your number one is. Or, go out and buy a cap that says number one on it. Good luck
@@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426 GOT IT! SHE'S ALIVE AGAIN! I don't have a light but I got her tuned by ear up to about 3000 rpm. However, when I punch it on the road she pings like nobody's business. Oh well. Gotta find a light.
@@whitlcj1 Hey Witlcj1, youve got her a little too advanced, turn the distributor back (counter clockwise) a little. Dont use regular gasoline, only premium. That may be another reason its pinging. Good luck.
@@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426 I ended up going to Kars Unlimited over there in South Hattiesburg Ms. to see Mr. Ken about the timing. I don't have a timing light so I asked if I could swing by and have them check it out. They said I had it advanced 28° BTDC when I tuned it by ear and feel on the way down there. She's sitting happy now at 14° BTDC and was able to idle the carb down a bit to compensate. I'll need new plug wires as the 90° boots on the cap ends are pulling out and shocking me and the techs that tuned it. Y'all were right! Way too advanced. Thanks for the input.
I have a question. My 428 is freshly rebuilt, when I get the #1 cylinder to TDC shouldn't my rotor point towards the #1 cylinder? Your rotor seems to be pointing at #6 or #7. When you put your cap and wires on will the wire from the #1 cylinder go to spot on the cap where the rotor is pointing?
Hey Chris, the rotor must point to the right rear of the engine, towards cylinders #7 roughly. Point of view is standing in front of the car looking at the engine and distributor. The vacuum advance points to the front of the car. The notch for the distributor also points somewhat to the front of the car too. This would put the #1 stamped onto the distributor cap pointing at cylinder #7 roughly. It does not point to the #1 cylinder. The shop manual shows this I think. I also have a video about it. follow this link: th-cam.com/video/wf8Qs_8laDM/w-d-xo.htmlsi=JopikWtkBtVsNwr6 Good luck.
Hey Nick, I like the way you show the proper way of doing this. I see that you could purchase a new harmonic balancer if the rubber section is bad causing the outer ring of the balancer to slip, causing incorrect timing settings. Just wondering if you have ever encountered this, or is it a non-issue?
Yes, I have encountered this many many times. The procedure that I show is also how you can identify this problem. If the piston is at the top and you have established that it is at the top and the timing marks do not line up, then you know your harmonic balancer pulley outer ring has spun into the wrong position. Very common with old used up harmonic balancers. However, 1964-66 Thunderbirds with air have the timing marks on the big 3 grove pulley that slides over he harmonic balancer, just like mine in the video, so there is no need to worry about the timing marks moving.
Hey Luis, thats because someone put it in wrong the last time it was apart. There should be a little keeper on it to prevent it from coming out of the oil pump. Now you have to pull the oil pan. Might as well install a high volume oil pump while you have it off. Good luck.
I have a 66 thunderbird that I'm doing the brakes on can you do a video that talks about how you put the brake booster and master cylinder back in and how to put the pedal switch for the brake lights back together if you can't make the video please respond to my comment as I do need help with putting the brakes back together and I'm know I can definitely use your knowledge thanks big fan of the videos - David
I made a short video of a booster and master that is already installed but I talked about how it was installed and showed the mounting points. Same with the switch. I hope that helped. Ill load that sometime later tonight. Thanks, Nick
I'm so glad you posted this! I wrestled with my distributor for 2 hours trying to get that last step to drop down. My problem ended up being the oil pump drive shaft would always fall over, preventing the distributor from fully seating correctly. I ended up putting a glob of grease onto the end of a screwdriver, and used the grease to keep the shaft centered while I positioned the distributor. It dropped right in after that.
There is supposed to be a clip on the oil pump drive that prevents it from lifting up too far to drop out of the oil pump. It is installed from the bottom up before the oil pump is installed. Usually they are missing. I have a tool to put the drive back into the oil pump if it has not dropped into the oil pan first. Its a pain in the ass when the clip is missing.
@@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426 Hey Nick, also, the oil pump drive shaft is tapered on the end that goes towards the distributor. It is supposed to help the shaft to slide into the right place during assembly. ( at least it is on the 390 engines that I own) I had one on my 66 Mercury 390 that was installed upside down from the factory - still had the clip on it. Without the clip, the shaft could stick into the bottom of the distributor and come out of the oil pump. Pain in the ass to get it back into the pump.
Very interesting and so informative. You make everything sound so easy. Thank you!
Thank you for this good video
I just read a previous question and answer. So you get the #1 cylinder to TDC the the rotor points to #1 on the cap?
If the distributor is installed correctly and the #1 piston is at TDC compression stroke, the rotor will point to #1 on the cap, roughly. It might be a hair off, this is why you can turn the distributor, to make up for this play. I have a video about installing a distributor, follow this link: th-cam.com/video/wf8Qs_8laDM/w-d-xo.htmlsi=JopikWtkBtVsNwr6 good luck
Mine does not have the 1 mark on the cap. 1966 galaxie 390
The cap can only go on the distributor one way because of the notch on the edge. Once you have the cap on, you can determine that #1 will be roughly in the 2 o'clock area. Look at my video and look at your cap and you can then see where your number one is. Or, go out and buy a cap that says number one on it. Good luck
@@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426 GOT IT! SHE'S ALIVE AGAIN! I don't have a light but I got her tuned by ear up to about 3000 rpm. However, when I punch it on the road she pings like nobody's business. Oh well. Gotta find a light.
@@whitlcj1 Hey Witlcj1, youve got her a little too advanced, turn the distributor back (counter clockwise) a little. Dont use regular gasoline, only premium. That may be another reason its pinging. Good luck.
@@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426 I ended up going to Kars Unlimited over there in South Hattiesburg Ms. to see Mr. Ken about the timing. I don't have a timing light so I asked if I could swing by and have them check it out. They said I had it advanced 28° BTDC when I tuned it by ear and feel on the way down there. She's sitting happy now at 14° BTDC and was able to idle the carb down a bit to compensate. I'll need new plug wires as the 90° boots on the cap ends are pulling out and shocking me and the techs that tuned it. Y'all were right! Way too advanced. Thanks for the input.
@@whitlcj1 Hey Whitlcj1, glad you got it sorted out. Sometimes is a journey. Thanks.
I have a question. My 428 is freshly rebuilt, when I get the #1 cylinder to TDC shouldn't my rotor point towards the #1 cylinder? Your rotor seems to be pointing at #6 or #7. When you put your cap and wires on will the wire from the #1 cylinder go to spot on the cap where the rotor is pointing?
Hey Chris, the rotor must point to the right rear of the engine, towards cylinders #7 roughly. Point of view is standing in front of the car looking at the engine and distributor. The vacuum advance points to the front of the car. The notch for the distributor also points somewhat to the front of the car too. This would put the #1 stamped onto the distributor cap pointing at cylinder #7 roughly. It does not point to the #1 cylinder. The shop manual shows this I think. I also have a video about it. follow this link: th-cam.com/video/wf8Qs_8laDM/w-d-xo.htmlsi=JopikWtkBtVsNwr6 Good luck.
Hey Nick, I like the way you show the proper way of doing this. I see that you could purchase a new harmonic balancer if the rubber section is bad causing the outer ring of the balancer to slip, causing incorrect timing settings. Just wondering if you have ever encountered this, or is it a non-issue?
Yes, I have encountered this many many times. The procedure that I show is also how you can identify this problem. If the piston is at the top and you have established that it is at the top and the timing marks do not line up, then you know your harmonic balancer pulley outer ring has spun into the wrong position. Very common with old used up harmonic balancers. However, 1964-66 Thunderbirds with air have the timing marks on the big 3 grove pulley that slides over he harmonic balancer, just like mine in the video, so there is no need to worry about the timing marks moving.
I pulled out the distributor to change it here intake manifold gaskets and the oil pump drive shaft fell in the oil pan.
Hey Luis, thats because someone put it in wrong the last time it was apart. There should be a little keeper on it to prevent it from coming out of the oil pump. Now you have to pull the oil pan. Might as well install a high volume oil pump while you have it off. Good luck.
@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426 If I go that route do I have to install oil restrictors in the cylinder heads for the high volume oil pump.
@@LuisLopez-ht7mk No, nothing like that. No modifications necessary. Dont forget to get a new pick up screen too. Good luck.
I have a 66 thunderbird that I'm doing the brakes on can you do a video that talks about how you put the brake booster and master cylinder back in and how to put the pedal switch for the brake lights back together if you can't make the video please respond to my comment as I do need help with putting the brakes back together and I'm know I can definitely use your knowledge thanks big fan of the videos
- David
I made a short video of a booster and master that is already installed but I talked about how it was installed and showed the mounting points. Same with the switch. I hope that helped. Ill load that sometime later tonight. Thanks, Nick
Hey David, your brake booster video is up. th-cam.com/video/HH4G-k5a-jk/w-d-xo.html
I thought you point the rotor to #1 at TDC... You're pointed to #6 or #7. What am I supposed to do here. Ha
I pointed to #1 and it said #1 on the cap. Its only #6 in some alternate universe.