That sounds rational. Make sure though the drive is actually fully engaged onto the pump. If that shaft is the type with the plastic retaining collar as most are and that collar has broken the shaft will not stay aligned at the pump and definitely will not allow the distributor to drop in correctly. Do not run the engine if the collar has broken and fallen off. You may need to get a new shaft with the steel collar.
Bump the starter or breaker bar on the crank bolt the oil pump shaft aligns and distributor drops in. Old old method. Advance the tooth count to compensate for the helical gear twist and rotor aligns perfectly.
As you raise and lower the distributor when the gears are engaged the rotor will twist left and right. Put a sharpie mark on the distributor housing where the #1 wire is on the cap and engage the rotor one tooth advanced and when it drops onto the oil pump shaft by turning over the engine it'll be on the mark ready for timing. Obviously you do this procedure with the balancer timing mark in spec and number 1 firing. You need to bring the crank around two times to verify but it'll be there.
One thing, unless you've got a crap load of money in that motor and it is a race build the cam isn't billet steel with steel distributor drive. Even if it is a OEM billet steel roller cam they press on iron gears. You do not need a bronze gear. The gears and tooth count on Big Block (and Small Block) Chevys are all the same. That is until they moved the oil pump drive to the crankshaft. The gear isn't your problem.
don't think it's pulled up. Old diz fits fine, but no gear to mesh. It's not leaning per se, at least to the eye. Looks centered when adjusting the tang and trying to drop.
Cap is off. I can see the rotor just fine. Where it should set, it's still up by the margin in the pic. Even tried rotating the oil pump shaft 180, but I wouldn't think that is polarized except the tang has to fit into the slot.
Think I can see for sure with a borescope camera going down the hole? Otherwise it's pull the engine and drop the pan. Day One all over again. Innovation will know what they used.That sounds rational. Make sure though the drive is actually fully engaged onto the pump. If that shaft is the type with the plastic retaining collar as most are and that collar has broken the shaft will not stay aligned at the pump and definitely will not allow the distributor to drop in correctly. Do not run the engine if the collar has broken and fallen off. You may need to get a new shaft with the steel collar.
Crazy question, but gotta ask. Can you see through the pin in the dist. gear? My mind is still wrapped around your original performance issues and @Hoplite808 's problems. And yes, I have lost sleep over both. It's the way God made me.
After reading all this I am praying for you that the impeller didn't get wiped out adding more grief to your project. Keep us posted on the test run!
