I've got an issue with the distributor not dropping all the way down and seating on the intake. I've pulled the pump and pump shaft and it still will not sit against the intake. Also in the front of the cam there seems to be a small indentation where the cam button would go against the cam. Any suggestions as to what is wrong here? The block is a Gen IV 454. Here is a picture of the nose of the cam.

I commented on your other thread but as for the cam button. On the front of the cam itself there will be a centered point where the cam was fitted into the cam lathe. The cam button is centered in the timing gear and fills the space between the cam itself and the timing cover preventing cam walk front to back. The button is held in place by the timing gear bolt locking plate. So if your cam is not properly installed all the way in the dist gear won't be able to fully mesh with the cam gear. Refer to my other post. Not sure if I'm helpful, just spitballing here.

Thanks for the info. I did read your other post but I figured I better start new post as I think I may have bigger issues. I may have to make a call to Bob on this one.

Mike did you check the endplay when assembling? Was this timing set machined for the use of a thrust bearing? Is there a thrust bearing?

Hey Joe-
I used the Cloyes two piece cover which has a built in button. The end play was adjusted but I could never get the distributor to sit down. I shimmed it, but it didn't work. I ended up stripping the distributor gear out the end of last summer. It seems that the pump shaft was a bit long and I ordered a new one today. However I attempted to drop the distributor in tonight without any pump or shaft and it still won't drop in. From the looks of it I need to pull the cam and have the nose repaired at a minimum. The other cam seem to be working fine, for some reason I'm having an issue with this one.

What distance do you have between the intake and distributor?

You should adjust the proper distributor gear height to cam gear. To do this sometime you need to put shim between the intake and distributor. Moroso make that shim.

The distance is 1/8". However shouldn't the nose of the cam be repaired. Without looking at the other, I'm guessing it's damaged and needs to be welded.

I can not figure what cause your distributor problem maybe the distributor shaft is not the good diameter??

did they make a tall deck dist, sounds like with that distance there may be you prob,

remove the intake manifold and look down the lifter holes,the cam lobes should be centered in ths bores,if not the cam is not installed properly.you may have a mismatch of parts.