ignition · FF-0538

How do you get a Flathead distributor that has walked up back down into the block?

The clamp on this aftermarket timing cover is held by two Allen head bolts. Steve says that when he put the engine together he had to rotate the crank to pull the distributor down into place. With the clamp loose the engine is turned over by hand and the distributor draws back in; once it starts to turn into place they lock it down there. They were not sure at first which way to crank it and settled on counterclockwise to pull it in. The rotor and cap are said to look like 1955 Chevy parts.

Expert

Steve Coppock and Ed Smith

Evidence

expert attributed

Component

distributor installation

Applicable scope

Steve Coppock's supercharged 8BA-style Ford Flathead V8, about 290 cubic inches, on the engine dyno at Klein Engines