LA318 Intermediate Shaft Removal Help

I have a 1971 LA318 I am having a helluva time getting the intermediate shaft out of. The old intermediate shaft walked right out, used a long magnetic to pull the oil pump attracting piece out as it was broken.
Bought a new Mellings intermediate shaft, greased up, and installed. Used an old distributor to line everything up. Turned the crank by hand and slowly tapped the shaft in. While turning and tapping, the distributor gear is off a few teeth from TDC.
When I go and try to pull the distributor gear up and move it a few teeth, the intermediate shaft and gear wont come out at all.
I have tried to long screw drivers into the slot, press handles together and get to walk it out. I tried the coat hanger method, and tried "L" bracket under the gear method. All have been failures.
Any other ideas?

Small slide hammer? You shouldn't have to "tap" the oil pump drive into the bushing. It should slide right in with a screw driver twisting into the camshaft gear.
Mike

493 Mike said:

Small slide hammer? You shouldn't have to "tap" the oil pump drive into the bushing. It should slide right in with a screw driver twisting into the camshaft gear.
Mike

Click to expand...

Mike,
I was turning the crank and the shaft wasnt going down. It dropped into the guide and into the block, distributor wont sit flush with the rear of the block. A small tap while turning and it went down.
I will see if I have a small slide hammer and try that. Thank you for the idea