Help refitting distributor please
Moderators: scimjim, Lukeyboy46, erikscimitardemon, Roger Pennington, philhoward
-
- RSSOC Member
- Posts: 67
- Joined: Wed Aug 29, 2018 10:22 pm
- Location: Dorchester, Dorset
- Has thanked: 69 times
- Been thanked: 1 time
Help refitting distributor please
Hi - I am rebuilding my engine (SE5a) after a break of few months following shoulder surgery and can't quite remember how the distributor fits back into the cylinder head. The distributor seems to be able to slide down until just below retaining spring clip. When I locate the metal block in the "logical" position in a recess its too high to secure the distributor in place. I was wondering if the spring clip should be located in a specific orientation and if the metal block does locate in the recess or lower down. I attach a few photos in case that might clarify the issue.
Thanks for any help or advice.
Regards,
Jim
Thanks for any help or advice.
Regards,
Jim
- Attachments
-
- UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_12b1.jpg (164.57 KiB) Viewed 1938 times
-
- UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_12b4.jpg (141.06 KiB) Viewed 1938 times
-
- UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_12b2.jpg (136.23 KiB) Viewed 1938 times
-
- UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_12b3.jpg (130.94 KiB) Viewed 1938 times
SE5a Rolling restoration, Discovery daily driver, Triumph Tiger 800 fun, Cannondale Synapse fitness
- Roger Pennington
- RSSOC Member
- Posts: 20212
- Joined: Tue Aug 29, 2006 9:43 pm
- Has thanked: 161 times
- Been thanked: 544 times
Help refitting distributor please
Like this:
....Roger
RSSOC member (since 1982)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Condition can be bought at any time; Originality, once lost, is gone forever" - Doug Nye
RSSOC member (since 1982)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Condition can be bought at any time; Originality, once lost, is gone forever" - Doug Nye
- Roger Pennington
- RSSOC Member
- Posts: 20212
- Joined: Tue Aug 29, 2006 9:43 pm
- Has thanked: 161 times
- Been thanked: 544 times
Help refitting distributor please
Oh, and this may be a daft question, but your photos seem to have been taken without the inlet manifold fitted? It's normal to fit that before the dizzy (I believe it may be possible, but the dizzy gets in the way)
....Roger
RSSOC member (since 1982)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Condition can be bought at any time; Originality, once lost, is gone forever" - Doug Nye
RSSOC member (since 1982)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Condition can be bought at any time; Originality, once lost, is gone forever" - Doug Nye
-
- RSSOC Member
- Posts: 67
- Joined: Wed Aug 29, 2018 10:22 pm
- Location: Dorchester, Dorset
- Has thanked: 69 times
- Been thanked: 1 time
Help refitting distributor please
Thanks Roger and Joey. That's very helpful. I was just trial fitting the distributor. I will fit the inlet manifold first. As a separate question, should I apply any liquid gasket on the cylinder head? I read that it should be applied around the water ways and another that suggested just to the cork area in the valley between the heads. What is your recommendation?
SE5a Rolling restoration, Discovery daily driver, Triumph Tiger 800 fun, Cannondale Synapse fitness
-
- RSSOC Member
- Posts: 1321
- Joined: Mon May 18, 2009 6:58 pm
- Location: Contae Corcaig, Éire
- Has thanked: 46 times
- Been thanked: 32 times
- Contact:
Help refitting distributor please
When i did mine i put some sealant around all waterways and around the oval ports too,just a smear not loads. Plenty at the cork parts though.
It will help if you trim the head gasket tabs that are sticking out beyond the head there in your picture.
I think i used a bit of superglue on the inlet gasket so it didnt move as i was assembling. Just a dot at each corner
It will help if you trim the head gasket tabs that are sticking out beyond the head there in your picture.
I think i used a bit of superglue on the inlet gasket so it didnt move as i was assembling. Just a dot at each corner
-
- RSSOC Member
- Posts: 377
- Joined: Sun Jun 14, 2009 9:05 am
- Location: EAST YORKSHIRE UK
- Has thanked: 2 times
- Been thanked: 21 times
Help refitting distributor please
Am just about to fit new Accuspark dizzied to my 79 6a and am I correct in believing that I must ensure the pencil drive off the oil pump must engage correctly in the dizzie? I’ve checked that the rotor arm is moving on a quick spin on the starter but oil pump runs off the dizzie drive or am I totally bonkers. Have a sump gasket ready if I need to drop the sump to engage pencil drive....
1979 se6a auto pas 3.0v6 (unnamed) sold after 22 years 2019.
1998 Range Rover 4.6 v8 auto (unnamed)
2016 Nissan QashQai 1.6 Tekna CVT dci ("Quentin")
2019 Skoda Cititgo MPI SEL Greentech ("Clyde")
Space for 5 more! Money for none!!
1998 Range Rover 4.6 v8 auto (unnamed)
2016 Nissan QashQai 1.6 Tekna CVT dci ("Quentin")
2019 Skoda Cititgo MPI SEL Greentech ("Clyde")
Space for 5 more! Money for none!!
-
- Posts: 926
- Joined: Thu Mar 03, 2016 9:20 pm
- Has thanked: 10 times
- Been thanked: 62 times
Help refitting distributor please
Just unplug the coil then spin it over and watch your oil pressure gauge if it shows pressure your engaged...it should go in the dizzy once its fully seated on its own...
-
- RSSOC Member
- Posts: 1655
- Joined: Sat Aug 10, 2013 1:09 pm
- Location: Haute-Saône,France
- Has thanked: 64 times
- Been thanked: 93 times
Help refitting distributor please
When refitting the dizzie, there should be an O-ring at the interface where it clamps to the cylinder-head. If this is missing or damaged, you will have a permanent oil-leak when the engine is running. It's 30mm diameter(from memory) and 3mm thick.
"When I grow up, I want to be me"
-Kermit Weeks
Current: SE6A; 998 Mini.Previous: Morris Minor,Ford8, Cortinas Mk1 &2,MG Midget 1932,Morgan 3W 1934,Lagonda Rapier,Honda S800, Austin Maxi,Citroen GSA, Riley ElfMk2,Peugeot 505,Rover 420 SDI
-Kermit Weeks
Current: SE6A; 998 Mini.Previous: Morris Minor,Ford8, Cortinas Mk1 &2,MG Midget 1932,Morgan 3W 1934,Lagonda Rapier,Honda S800, Austin Maxi,Citroen GSA, Riley ElfMk2,Peugeot 505,Rover 420 SDI
-
- RSSOC Member
- Posts: 377
- Joined: Sun Jun 14, 2009 9:05 am
- Location: EAST YORKSHIRE UK
- Has thanked: 2 times
- Been thanked: 21 times
Help refitting distributor please
Thanks rebel it’s seated fine first time which good luck does not generally goes my wAy pressure gauge reading so good to finish the job thanks
1979 se6a auto pas 3.0v6 (unnamed) sold after 22 years 2019.
1998 Range Rover 4.6 v8 auto (unnamed)
2016 Nissan QashQai 1.6 Tekna CVT dci ("Quentin")
2019 Skoda Cititgo MPI SEL Greentech ("Clyde")
Space for 5 more! Money for none!!
1998 Range Rover 4.6 v8 auto (unnamed)
2016 Nissan QashQai 1.6 Tekna CVT dci ("Quentin")
2019 Skoda Cititgo MPI SEL Greentech ("Clyde")
Space for 5 more! Money for none!!
-
- RSSOC Member
- Posts: 67
- Joined: Wed Aug 29, 2018 10:22 pm
- Location: Dorchester, Dorset
- Has thanked: 69 times
- Been thanked: 1 time
Help refitting distributor please
Thanks Joey. I will be assembling the engine top end today. All the best, Jim
SE5a Rolling restoration, Discovery daily driver, Triumph Tiger 800 fun, Cannondale Synapse fitness
- housemartin
- RSSOC Member
- Posts: 79
- Joined: Wed Feb 13, 2013 4:59 pm
- Location: The best side of the Scottish Border
- Has thanked: 15 times
- Been thanked: 4 times
Help refitting distributor please
Hi
I am also rebuilding my essex, could you or anyone else post a picture with the rubber 0-ring fitted as i had to clean a lot of oil from around the front of the engine. I am at a loss to know where it goes.
Also when I attach a drill to the oil pump pencil drive and build up pressure should I see dribble or spray of oil at the rockers or does that require the crank to be turning?
Cheers
Dan
-
- Posts: 926
- Joined: Thu Mar 03, 2016 9:20 pm
- Has thanked: 10 times
- Been thanked: 62 times
Help refitting distributor please
There is no O ring on the distributor and you will have to turn the engine over with the starter to get oil up to the rockers
Stirred not shaken!