351w distributor help

[kentrx1]

have an 82 351w that has the dreaded ecc iii dizzy-----timing totally controlled by computer. wish to simplify and go to a ford version hei, but when i got my dizzy it had 1/2 inch shorter shaft than dizzy i pulled. my original dizzy is approx 5 1/2 inches from end of shaft to o-ring------but new one is approx 5 inches. by my measurements, the shaft would overlap the oil pump shaft by about 1/2 inch with the new one. is this enough overlap? does anyone have a dizzy they can measure and see how it compares? thanks for any help offered!

 

[Justshootme84]

The main thing I'd look at is the location of the gear on the dizzy shaft. It should be close to or at the same distance from the base of the dizzy to the center of the gear as the old one, so it lines up with your cam. The shaft does need to be long enough to engage the oil pump, of course, too. There are many suppliers of Ford HEI dizzies, so I would check with the one you bought yours from with any questions like this. I put one in my 84 Bronco on the 460, and have had no problems, JSM84

 

[kentrx1]

The main thing I'd look at is the location of the gear on the dizzy shaft. It should be close to or at the same distance from the base of the dizzy to the center of the gear as the old one, so it lines up with your cam. The shaft does need to be long enough to engage the oil pump, of course, too. There are many suppliers of Ford HEI dizzies, so I would check with the one you bought yours from with any questions like this. I put one in my 84 Bronco on the 460, and have had no problems, JSM84

 

[kentrx1]

thanks for your thoughts. unfortunately the ebay seller is not very responsive, but have looked at other sites that sell same item and they bascically say they don't know. i am thinking 1/2 inch engagement with oil pump should be enough and will probably give it a try and keep my eyes pegged on oil pressure for a few days!

 

[2NDTOUR89]

Make sure it is a 351w distributor and not a 302. The 351 has a taller deck height and if memory suites, the distributors are different lengths...

 

[BLADE262US]

The easiest way to tell a 302 distributor from a 351 is by the hex size in the end a 302 is 1/4 hex and a 351W is 5/16 hex . Im not sure what you have going on there with it being longer but in the 302,s if it was a roller motor the distributor shaft is a bit longer than a non roller . I think this may be to keep you from putting a roller distributor in a non roller motor because the drive gear is a different material and will eat itself . If your motor is the original 83 that shouldnt be the case but if someone swapped in a newer short block it could happen . /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />