231 > 350 SWAP - COMPLETE Specialty swap (Fixed - Cranking issue / Turning over) - Built from Block

Discussion in 'Small Block Tech' started by Orlando M, Jul 8, 2020.

  1. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    That's an O ring. Lube it up with some white lithium grease. It will go. BTW, if all you did is line up the marks, there's at least a 50% chance it is in 180* out, more if you consider Murphy's Law.:)
     
    Mart likes this.
  2. Mart

    Mart Gold level member

    Post a close up pic at timing cover hold down of how you have the dist seated/installed.
     
  3. Orlando M

    Orlando M I’ve got something to prove and something to lose.

    I have it pretty tight. It just has this tendency to come out. As if it’s not reaching the oil pump shaft. I’ve seen something about people saying the timing cover diameter could be the issue as in being too small for the distributor to fit in. I feel like it’s the same issue because it won’t go in on it’s own.
     
  4. Orlando M

    Orlando M I’ve got something to prove and something to lose.

    There is still about a 1/4in gap on it being completely in.
     
  5. BuickV8Mike

    BuickV8Mike SD Buick Fan

    New o-rings are tough. It needs to go in. Usually tightening best you can then turning over the motor will "pull it down and in". Tighten it down more the try again.
     
  6. Mart

    Mart Gold level member

    Has to be seated, see pic with arrows.
    You can't have a gap like 2nd pic.
     

    Attached Files:

    knucklebusted and Orlando M like this.
  7. 1987Regal

    1987Regal Well-Known Member

    You may need to spin oil pump shaft by hand using a flate blade to line up the grooves. Hold the dist in one hand with rotor at cylinder 1 look under the dist gear at the notch to see how the pump needs to be spung to line up.
    To understand how it will click in, put the dist in the hole, push down to seat it as you do that spin the rotor by hand till it clicks in,if you feel the gear rubbing be gentle, then you will know it seated. Repeat process next time get it on cylinder 1 spot, you will need to spin oil pump according. It takes time, like I said before the gears and pump shaft has to line up all at once. That shaft can only mesh 1 way
     
    Last edited: Jul 10, 2020
    Orlando M likes this.
  8. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    If it is a new cover, it may not be machined correctly.
     
    Orlando M likes this.
  9. Fox's Den

    Fox's Den 355Xrs

    Remember, the dist shaft turns another 1/4 inch at the last drop to be seated as the cam turns the shaft. So the oil pump drive needs to be in this position.

    Don't move the motor to help drop it in since it is not totally lined up with the cam gear I do not like this idea you just need to get that oil pump in the exact position as it makes that last 1/4 turn to be seated.
     
  10. Orlando M

    Orlando M I’ve got something to prove and something to lose.

    I’ve heard of people having issues with these.
     
  11. Orlando M

    Orlando M I’ve got something to prove and something to lose.


    Yea I have the gap like the 2nd pic but when it is in like the 1st pic, that’s when it’s not spinning like it doesn’t reach. I just have tightened the distributor screw down and that has a 1/4 gap before it’s completely screwed in.
     
  12. Orlando M

    Orlando M I’ve got something to prove and something to lose.


    Yea. This is where I’m trying to get to but it hasn’t even turned when being installed so that’s why I feel like they are t reaching each other on the inside.
     
  13. Orlando M

    Orlando M I’ve got something to prove and something to lose.



    this is what I have tried and it’s like I can not determine if they are meshing or lining up because they both move so freely inside the timing cover.
     
  14. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    As you push the distributor home, the rotor should turn if the gears are meshing at all. So I repeat my question, is there a drive gear on the end of the camshaft? Look in the hole with a light.
     
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  15. Mart

    Mart Gold level member

    Where is Orlando at? Maybe someone might be 2 doors down from him.....
     
    Max Damage likes this.
  16. BuickV8Mike

    BuickV8Mike SD Buick Fan

    Just as a check....you could remove the o-ring and see that it seats properly without it.
     
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  17. Orlando M

    Orlando M I’ve got something to prove and something to lose.

    So the rotor did a slight turn after I got it with the long screw driver, aligned it with the distributor and it set in. I turned it a couple of times to see if it turned the oil shaft and it moved as I turned and pulled it out to check so it was moving as I turned the rotor arm. But I can say I don’t see directly in the hole for the distributor gear. I just see the shaft and a small part of the belt from the angle (not much area to look at). Getting current to the BAT wire still but nothing on the distributor itself. But like I said it did spin once I put it in. I did however have to take the O ring off for it to drop in that way. Otherwise it was sitting on the lip with the gasket visible.
     
  18. Orlando M

    Orlando M I’ve got something to prove and something to lose.

    Pensacola, FL
     
  19. Orlando M

    Orlando M I’ve got something to prove and something to lose.


    I checked but I could see much from that side angle. I seen the shaft and the timing chain but I only seen about 11oclock to 12oclock angle. So I didn’t see much through the hole. I can say I didn’t see it right off the bat.
     
  20. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    No, it should be very obvious.
    350CamGearandFPCam.JPG
    It is right there forward of the timing chain.
     

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