pro billet distributor
 

Has anyone here put a MSD pro billet distributor in a small block chevy.I'm having problems with my truck,this might be long,stick with me.I have a 88 chevy pick up.A few years ago,5 or 6,I put a vortec 5.7l engine in with the Edelbrock port fuel injection kit in it.A while ago one of the cam retaining plate bolts backed out causing the timing chain to bind and break.After a new timing set I found out it also bent some valves.The distributor was old so I put in a msd replacement.Now i'm not getting any oil up to the top of the motor,the hydrualic roller lifters won't pump up.The distributor came with some o rings but the instructions said don't use them unless the block has been modified.I dont have my old distributor anymore so I cant swap them out to see if oil is bypassing a gallery with the new one.Also oil pressure seems slow to build.I primed the system before initial firing but just cranking the engine it takes about 8 to 10 seconds for pressure to build.You can watch the oil travel the clear plastic line up to a mech gauge.Any suggestions,I've been working on this truck for months now and its one problem after another.I bought a new truck but need to get this going to sell it.

Re: pro billet distributor
 

put the o rings back on the dist.

Re: pro billet distributor
 

I'm gonna try that today.

Re: pro billet distributor
 

You don't want to use those orings on a stock block! Have you changed camshafts since the problems happened?

Re: pro billet distributor
 

No,its still the stock cam.do you think its possible a cam bearing spun?

Re: pro billet distributor
 

Is the OD of the new distrib body too small?

Re: pro billet distributor
 

I don't have the original distributor anymore to compare it with.

Re: pro billet distributor
 

You may have hurt a cam bearing. Did you prime it by cranking, or using a priming tool?

Re: pro billet distributor
 

I used a priming tool but this motor has had oil pressure issues since the chain broke.after replacing the timing set the motor would not start,no fuel pressure.Computer won't energize fuel pump with less than 4lbs oil pressure and I had none.Dropped the pan and everythig looked ok but I put a new pump,pickup.driveand at this point I also bought the MSD dist.Now I had oil and fuel pressure but no spark!After lots of cussing,swearing and throwing tools around I bought a new truck.Was going to next year anyway.Found out the MSD dist would not fire the crane HI-6 ignition box I had on the truck.After eleminating the crane box now I have oil pressure,fuel pressure,spark,motor fires and runs but no oil up top.I can't find the o rings for the msd dist. so I'll buy some tommorow but I'm begining to think I may have wiped out a cam bearing or journal.The only other thing is that this is a 97 vortec motor and the Distributor is a relacement for 87-95.maybe 96 and later motors are machined different but I drove this combination 75000 miles with the stock distributor.Maybe a new short block is in order!

Re: pro billet distributor
 

Did you take the engine apart or just change the chain? It would sound like you've got some oil galley's plugged up.