distributor install question
 

I went to install my distributor tonight and I couldn't get it in the case all the way. I have an SC motor that I am turning into a turbo with all 76 turbo parts. I also have the distributor from the 76 turbo. I have always thought that the SC case and the early turbo case are the same. What do you all think I am doing wrong? I have read your book wayne and it seems like it should be easy, and probabl is, but wasn't sure if something else was wrong.

hmm.. The distributor might be of the wrong direction. I know SC's distributor turns differently than the 2.0-2.7 distributor. do you have a 2.7 distributor?

No. I think the 76 turbo case is a 3.0. I think it is the same case as the SC.

hmm... which crank are you using? is it from the same engine type as the distributor?

Well, not really sure, but I thought that they were the same case and I assumed that they are the same crank aswell.

I don't belive the case matters since the 964 crank will fit into any case 72 and up. The gear on the crankshaft on the otherhand did at least between the SC(3.0) and the 2.0-2.7 crankshafts. I don't know about the 3.0 turbo's though.

Ok, well I spent about a half hour trying to monkey the thing in there and it just wouldn't have it. I don't know what to do.

Chances are your distributor drive gear on the crank is going the other direction. Shine a flashlight into the diz hole and examine the teeth on the drive gear, then look at the gear on your diz and see if the two sets of teeth are compatible.

SCs got reverse-turning distributors, nobody I know can figure out why. Had some friends build a race motor trying to beat a deadline. Got the motor all sealed up and went to drop in the diz. Nope. After a few hours of head scratching, the painful truth dawned on them. Their new crank had the wrong gear. I know of one machine shop that got a tongue lashing over that one.

This just happened to me two weeks ago, but my diz was wrong, not the crank. Let me know if you need the diz as I don't have any SC-crank based motors lying around. Name your price.

That is exactly the problem.

3.0 turbo distributors turn the other way. Look at the gear on the bottom:

early turbo dizzy:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1068009782.jpg

SC dizzy:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1068009801.jpg

Tom

Tom is SOOOO right.

The dizzy drive gear must match the crank drive gear. Further, you must use a dizzy that rotates the right direction so the advance mechanism works properly.

Alright guys thanks alot.. I guess I need to find a SC distributor and find another way to retard the timing. Anyone have a good ideas for that??

I've got an SC distributor that's got a bad bushing. I'll give it to you if you pay for shipping. You can get it recurved and rebuilt possibly. Only name I have is Barry Hershon-313.532.5330 or 313.532.3169. This came out of Porshe 911 Handbook.

Can't promise you anything though. You may be better off finding a non damaged unit.

Lee 78sc.

I mention this numerous times in the Engine Rebuild Book - I would suggest that anyone rebuidling an engine get a copy before they continue (www.101projects.com).

In 1978, the distributor reversed direction for both the Turbos and the 911SCs. Earlier cars turned in the standard clockwise direction. I hear that they did this as a potential fix for distributors backing out, or some strange gear wear. They went back to the clockwise turning in 1984 with the Carrera, but kept the Turbo distributor spinning counter-clockwise until 1989.

See page 45 of the book - there are three different distributor drive gears, and they *must* be matched to the crankshaft gear. This is why I recommend that you test-fit your distributor (see page 136) right after closing up the case, so that you don't get too far without knowing your mistake.

Read the book carefully - lots of tips and tricks (like this one) in there so you won't make mistakes like these...

-Wayne