Shim needed on Intermediate shaft?

[gkent]

See this gear? It's a Ford gear but that makes no difference. The RED represents the cam gear of the same size. Moving either gear up or down or sideways doesn't do anything of any significance whatsoever. The centers of rotation do not change and because they're helical-cut gears, neither does the contact patch. If the intermediate shaft is spaced up .030, YES it will rotate ... about .015". Do the math ... that's equivalet to "about" 1 dgree. I challenge anyone to accurately see that with a timing light !!

 

[wwheel]

Not trying to cause a civil war here. I did talk to my friend who routinely rebuilds rear axles, steering gears and manual transmissions. He knows gears and the different types. He agrees with gKent in that this style of gear isn't as critical with the centerline as others are. Yes, there are some that ARE very sensitive, but not in this case.

I think we are all in agreement that that rotation of the cam pulls the int. shaft DOWN. That was answered in post #2. I only asked at the beginning if anyone knew which way to confirm. Yes I agree it would be bad if it was forced upward.

Attached are pics of the shaft entering the Int shaft. The lower shaft mark is the height when the dizzy body stops on the block. The upper mark is the maximum engagement on the bench. At the lower mark, I get a 1/16" engagement and that's it. I think that is insufficient and why I want to shim the Int shaft gear up. The difference using a caliper between the upper (max) and the lower is .120" or a maximum of .180" total engagement. So if i added a .031" precision washer to the existing, I would end up with .093" (3/32") total engagement. Not tons but should be enough and I'd be happy with that. The other advantage to using a hard precision washer as a shim is the wear aspect between the two soft metals, brass and bronze. Like materials and like materials with a similar hardness, don't wear well or for long. The factory used a hard int shaft gear with the softer cast cams. That wears well on the bronze bushing pressed into the block. Same deal with the fuel pump rod. But this is a a forged roller cam and so the materials need to change as recommended.

Also I do have some vertical endplay with the dizzy but maybe more like .010". Washers coming in Friday so I will see what happens.

Thanks for the input!

 

[wwheel]

BTW, I measured the dizzy shaft length per Halifaxhops instructions in post #16. I got 4.060" with a caliper. Certainly not too short.

 

[Kern Dog]

This topic got me curious. How many of us have similar conditions but don’t even know it?
It inspired me to go out and see how mine looks.

This is my 440/495. I’m in the last few steps of a roller cam swap.

The distributor is a reproduction sold by Rick Ehrenberg through his eBay store. The intermediate shaft is a melonized unit from Hughes. The engagement between the two looks perfect. The gear to cam free play is minimal, the distributor shaft to intermediate shaft free play is too.
Did I just get lucky or does the OP have a weird issue that few of us have dealt with before?

 

[RemCharger]

This topic got me curious. How many of us have similar conditions but don’t even know it?
It inspired me to go out and see how mine looks.

View attachment 2010461

This is my 440/495. I’m in the last few steps of a roller cam swap.

View attachment 2010462

The distributor is a reproduction sold by Rick Ehrenberg through his eBay store. The intermediate shaft is a melonized unit from Hughes. The engagement between the two looks perfect. The gear to cam free play is minimal, the distributor shaft to intermediate shaft free play is too.
Did I just get lucky or does the OP have a weird issue that few of us have dealt with before?

How does the measurement of your shaft compare to the OP's ?
< insert lol here>

 

[Kern Dog]

My mom used to tell me I had a good size for a boy my age.

 

[69Bee]

I strongly disagree with your friend. ALL gears and gear sets are designed to mesh at a certain point in order to achieve the proper full depth engagement. Running the gears higher or lower makes the engagement shallow or deep. Much like setting up rear end gears. They need to mesh properly in order to run properly.

 

[RemCharger]

My mom used to tell me I had a good size for a boy my age.

That's nice. Now spill the beans

 

[Kern Dog]

I find this situation both awkward and disturbing that this matters to another man.

 

[RemCharger]

It matters to the OP. He's being advised to raise the distributor drive out of the production setting. Yours is good.... so what's the difference??

 

[dadsbee]

Thank God Winternet is over tomorrow...

 

[493 Mike]

Must be time to drink beer!
Mike

 

[dadsbee]

Must be time to drink beer!
Mike

 

[Kern Dog]

How does the measurement of your shaft compare to the OP's ?
< insert lol here>

My mom used to tell me I had a good size for a boy my age.

That's nice. Now spill the beans

I find this situation both awkward and disturbing that this matters to another man.

You opened the door to a joke then pretend it never happened?

 

[Kern Dog]

For the sake of automotive knowledge and in a completely heterosexual manner, here is what I found.

I used a cheap caliper set so the digital readout is visible.

The lower picture is hard to guarantee since the calipers are at a slight angle but this may help some. If the OPs distributor shaft measures close to this, his problem is with what may be a shorter height on the intermediate shaft.

 

[gkent]

Much like setting up rear end gears. They need to mesh properly in order to run properly.

Actually not at all like rear end gears !! Rear end gears are conical or "beveled" gears. These absolutely have a sweet spot. But the gears in question are not beveled and therefore can have some movement while still maintaining proper engagement.

 

[RemCharger]

For the sake of automotive knowledge and in a completely heterosexual manner, here is what I found.

View attachment 2010528

I used a cheap caliper set so the digital readout is visible.

View attachment 2010529

The lower picture is hard to guarantee since the calipers are at a slight angle but this may help some. If the OPs distributor shaft measures close to this, his problem is with what may be a shorter height on the intermediate shaft.

Thanks that's exactly the necessary information. If I was the OP, ild be investigating why the intermediate shaft is wrong.

Back to the side line jokes!

 

[Cranky]

Must be time to drink beer!
Mike

Already there and on my 2nd.....

 

[Kern Dog]

Or your 3nd?

 

[Cranky]

Or your 3nd?

Well, I put my 2nd one down and then forgot where....my knees are hurting a bit so instead of walking all over the shop looking for it (keep in mind my building is almost 1500 sq ft plus a 25x25' carport out back), I cracked open a replacement. 5 minutes later I spotted the 2nd one so it'll be a 3 beer afternoon.