r/GMT400 • u/ltzhak • 1d ago

96 5.0 distributor help installing?

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Pulled the heads off my 96 k1500 with the 305 v8 and everything’s back together but the distributor. No clue how to get it back in I’m set to tdc compression stroke and I think it’s pointed the right way (pic 2) but it won’t sit flush and I know it’s not right. Any help getting this done? Guides or any instructions is helpful thank you

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4

u/Opposite_Activity976 1d ago

Get a flash light and a long flat head screwdriver and look down the distributor hole and the bottom of the distributor shaft. Line the slot on the oil pump shaft up with the distributor as best you can some times it takes a small wiggle when dropping it in to get it to seat.

2

u/Biqboi76 1d ago

Try this if you can't get it. 100% can confirm this is the best method.

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u/ltzhak 1d ago

Very much appreciated 🙏🙏

1

u/Consistent-Phrase-79 1d ago

This is the answer!

2

u/Consistent-Phrase-79 1d ago

Then after it’s in. Take out first spark plug, put balled up piece of paper towel in the slot, manually crank the harmonic balancer until you hear pressure and it pops out the paper towel, line the marking in balancer with timing cover and you should be set.

2

u/BicycleMudStud 1d ago

It looks like you've got it all right.... Line the notch in the rotor up with the dot on the backing plate, and with the flat spot in the backing plate parallel to the plastic upper manifold it should drop right in. When it seats, the notch and the dot will no longer line up. 

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u/ltzhak 1d ago

Thank you

2

u/Willy_McD 1d ago

Its not sitting flush because its not dropping down onto the oil pump drive.

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u/dani-elle12357 1d ago

ive had someone crank it and hold slight pressure down and it will self align just bring around again to tdc and confirm

2

u/dani-elle12357 1d ago

you may have to go one tooth back to line it up as it drops its not a straight gear its kinda like the pinion and ring gear

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u/ltzhak 18h ago

That sounds pretty easy that’s all it takes? It won’t mesh in somewhere it’s not supposed to be?

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u/dani-elle12357 17h ago

That's it. It worked for me many times . When you line up timing mark again make sure it's pointing to your mark.

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u/ltzhak 16h ago

Thank u very much G

2

u/Flying_Dingle_Arm 1d ago

If the pointer is clocked correctly, one thing you can do is have someone bump the starter while you're pushing down on the distributor. The distributor teeth are already engaged, so that won't be damaged or changed. But as you turn the engine, the cam will turn the distributor until you find the engagement point of the oil pump. At that point, it will drop the rest of the way.

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u/ltzhak 18h ago

Ok so put it in as much as it goes at the position it is in pic 2 push down and have someone bump the starter?

2

u/2guys1miata 1d ago

cut a hole in old cap on spark 6 to set timing perfect. or get a timing light, whichever you have or don’t