SoCal Jet Boats

Tech Talk => Engine Mechanical / Electrical => Topic started by: The Chaz on July 09, 2008, 07:58:53 PM

Title: It was a better day.
Post by: The Chaz on July 09, 2008, 07:58:53 PM: I thought it was going to be a good day as I began the installation of my new to me MSD dist. Pulled the old one out and tried to slide the new one in. Not happening. I pulled the oil pump rod out far enough to check it and found that it was was just slightly too small of an opening on the new dist. OK dremmel to the rescue. Got just enought to fix the rod problem but it still wouldnt go in. Then it started. I dropped the rodback into the block, but not into the seat of the oil pump. OK I had this happen before and worked it back out. Tried to get back in the pump seat and somehow a 3" rubber handle off the grabbing tool fell off and bing right into the hole and likely into the oil pan. :banghead:

After many choice words I decided to continue my MSD installation to avail. The old one will go right in, but the new one does not want to mesh upwith the cam gear.

The gear was just replaced, it is brand new. Could this be the issue? Just too tight? I am so frustrated :mad: The engine will have to come out again to drop the oil pan and get the rubber out.

OK I guess I am done with the rant, if anyone read thru all this and has any suggestions on the MSD installation I would love to be able to use it.
Title: Re: It was a bad day.
Post by: GT Jets on July 09, 2008, 08:04:46 PM: Go distributorless ;D
Title: Re: It was a bad day.
Post by: The Chaz on July 09, 2008, 08:17:53 PM: That may be an option. I never know when to leave well enough alone.
Title: Re: It was a bad day.
Post by: GT Jets on July 09, 2008, 08:20:00 PM: Welcome to my world, if I had ll the money back for everything I have done twice I could retire!
Title: Re: It was a bad day.
Post by: Jetaholic on July 09, 2008, 09:00:43 PM: Quote from: GT Jets on July 09, 2008, 08:04:46 PM
Go distributorless ;D

He'd still have to install a cam sync just like he'd have to install a dizzy.
Title: Re: It was a bad day.
Post by: The Chaz on July 09, 2008, 09:07:43 PM: So has anyone ever had an issue getting a new gear to slide into an almost new cam?
Title: Re: It was a bad day.
Post by: GT Jets on July 09, 2008, 09:18:53 PM: The only Ford (460) distributor that really pissed me off, was an MSD billit with a bronze/brass gear for a hydraulic roller cam, it literally would not line up right and fit like crap, went in really hard and came out really hard, ended up talking to MSD and they sent me a new gear and the damn thing went right in......to this day, no clue (had to send the old gear back). I thought it was the hex oil pump shaft that was hanging things up, but couldn't find any problem with that, which is why I replaced the gear (the shaft goes all the way through the gear onto the oil pump shaft.
Title: Re: It was a bad day.
Post by: The Chaz on July 10, 2008, 04:42:22 PM: I called MSD and was told that Stevie Wonder makes the gears and they must all be measured and redrilled. Mine was about 1/2" too high using the original pin hole. The reason it wouldn't slide in though was due to some folding of the metal on the end of the shaft by the gear installer :sly: Machine shop said they could fix it for an hours labor :'(
Title: Re: It was a bad day.
Post by: GAWnCA on July 10, 2008, 05:30:51 PM: Quote from: The Chaz on July 10, 2008, 04:42:22 PM
I called MSD and was told that Stevie Wonder makes the gears and they must all be measured and redrilled. Mine was about 1/2" too high using the original pin hole. The reason it wouldn't slide in though was due to some folding of the metal on the end of the shaft by the gear installer :sly: Machine shop said they could fix it for an hours labor :'(

Looks to me like MSD should take the loss and make this right since it was their contractor who built the part for them. I'd return and demand a full refund. Guess I'll never buy a MSD product.
Title: Re: It was a bad day.
Post by: The Chaz on July 10, 2008, 05:50:27 PM: Actually this was a used Dist. The gear had to be replaced to fit my cam. The old one was not for a stock size cam gear. This is a know "issue" with the new gears for Fords I guess as they come with directions telling you to either send the dist to them or take it to a machine shop for installation. The guy in the machine shop reccomended that I do it myself as it was a bit time comsuming but fairly easy. I opted to let him do it so I could use the time to pull my engine and get the f'in rubber peice I dropped in there out.
Title: Re: It was a better day.
Post by: The Chaz on July 11, 2008, 04:21:29 PM: Well I pulled the engine dropped the pan and got the rubber handle out :-\

Installed the MSD dist, set timing, and realized Accel wires wont work with this dist. :banghead:

BUT, they did temporaraly and after I got it all hooked back up it started right up and responded to mild pulse of the gas better than ever. O0

Now I just need new wires, and water lines for the headers and its back to the water ;D
Title: Re: It was a better day.
Post by: bkplesh on July 11, 2008, 04:41:40 PM: talk to marc, they have msd wires in stock ;D
Title: Re: It was a better day.
Post by: The Chaz on July 11, 2008, 05:22:29 PM: Quote from: bkplesh on July 11, 2008, 04:41:40 PM
talk to marc, they have msd wires in stock ;D

Good idea :D
Title: Re: It was a better day.
Post by: HDriderTH on July 11, 2008, 06:47:16 PM: I dont know about the fords but I just got done putting a new MSD Promag in my chevy and they come with a .006 oversize gerar on 'em. Their also bronze, not be run with cast cam billet only.