Do I need to replace Intermediate shaft

SgtLee511 · Jul 7, 2016

Rebuilding 383 for my runner its a 89,000 mile motor. Whats yalls opinion on replacement of the intermediate shaft. Is there mutch wear associated with it? Im going to have machinist reinstall a new bushing, is buying a new shaft over kill?

PurpleBeeper · Jul 7, 2016

Sorry to sound stupid, but what is an "intermediate shaft"? Distributor drive gear? Fuel pump shaft? Since you mention changing a bushing, I'm going to guess you're talking about the distributor/oil pump shaft/gear. What I've always been told is that what wears out is the gear & that can be replaced/upgraded to a bronze gear (for BIG lift cams or something like that). I've never had a problem with one personally.

lewtot184 · Jul 7, 2016

depends. i have an original high mileage shaft that looks and measures good. i've had some of the newer hardened/pinned shafts show wear at a few thousand miles. one of the big problems i'm finding is the bushing i.d.'s are all over the place. i've had some new bushings with over .010" clearance between the shaft and bushing,...way too much.

IQ52 · Jul 7, 2016

PurpleBeeper said:
Sorry to sound stupid, but what is an "intermediate shaft"? Distributor drive gear? Fuel pump shaft? Since you mention changing a bushing, I'm going to guess you're talking about the distributor/oil pump shaft/gear. What I've always been told is that what wears out is the gear & that can be replaced/upgraded to a bronze gear (for BIG lift cams or something like that). I've never had a problem with one personally.

Yes the intermediate shaft is the the one that drives the distributor and oil pump from the camshaft.

The bronze gear is for billet steel cam cores only, like those used for roller cams.

poly3521 · Jul 7, 2016

I bought a new Mopar Performance shaft and bushing for my engine rebuild. Last guy that put my 440 together didn't burnish the bushing to the block. If it's out of specs, change it. If not, it's not difficult to change later. Just make sure you have the tool to change the bushing, Miller Specialty tools c-3052 and c-3053. They're used on every Mopar with a distributor except slant six and 2.2l and 2.5l.

moper · Jul 7, 2016

If you're rebuilding for some rpm, buy a performance one with a pinned gear and hardened tip. If you're fixing a worn bushing - they wear together - buy one.

SgtLee511 · Jul 8, 2016

Thanks for the input

mentor70 · Jul 8, 2016

heres some pix of the factory installation tool. it is designed to have the new bushing slid onto the end of the tool, and then hammered into the block, as the tool is screwed out of the bushing it also sizes the bushing to give proper clearance for the new shaft.

hangn0ut · Jul 8, 2016

If your timing is bouncing around,good chance its time for a new gear.

miller · Jul 9, 2016

Main things to check on those shafts are, the hex end is in good shape, and the drive gear is tight on the shaft.

440beep · Jul 11, 2016

Hughes Engines rents this tool. THat's what I did to get my new bushing in, but then again, I'm only 2 hours away from them.

http://www.hughesengines.com/Index/...aGluZyBJbnN0YWxsZXIvUmVtb3Zlcg==&partid=26529

mentor70 said:
heres some pix of the factory installation tool. it is designed to have the new bushing slid onto the end of the tool, and then hammered into the block, as the tool is screwed out of the bushing it also sizes the bushing to give proper clearance for the new shaft.

View attachment 347799 View attachment 347800 View attachment 347801

Do I need to replace Intermediate shaft

SgtLee511

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PurpleBeeper

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lewtot184

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IQ52

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poly3521

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moper

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SgtLee511

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mentor70

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hangn0ut

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miller

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440beep

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