I received a new firecore distributor for Christmas for my 440.

After setting the #1 cylinder at TDC marking and pulling the stock distributor out I can't seem to get the new distrubutor to drop in the last 1/8 inch.

The drive is lined up and is starting to engage as the rotor will lock up. However turning the rotor while holding the distributor down will "pop" the distrubtor out and by feel the drive is only barely engaged.

Just to ensure everything was lined up I tried the stock unit which dropped in with no issues.

I checked for burrs and the like on he end of the drive and even lightly ran a draw file across it to be sure with no change.

I have left Firecore a message but will have to wait for a response with the holiday. Any ideas?

Could pull the intermediate shaft & make sure they fit together. A large flat head to turn the shaft backwards, then grab with a magnet.

Just a thought. Then with the shaft out, make sure you can seat the distributor in the block.

the o ring is a little thicker on ricks dizzy , i just did the same thing a couple weeks ago , but i pushed harder than you .. it fits right in ..

this isnt the first distributor hes sold , it should fit
it should push in with a little pressure ..

I'd set the two side by side & eyeball (& measure) what is different that is holding things up. It very well might be the O ring as said

Put a thin layer of bearing grease or oil on the o-ring to help it slide into the hole. Thats what i do with every o-ring. Plus it helps from possible tears and eases installation and removal

FC dist are a TIGHT fit,but they dont leak.i love mine. its the first time i been able to get my curve EXACTLY PERFECT!

Don't get me wrong by no way am I dissing firecore or their product.

I pulled the gear out of the engine. The new dist. will not fit into the slot in the gear fits into the block with no issues.

The slot has seen some use and abuse however the stocker will fit in with no issues. However the end of the stock distributor isn't nearly as long and has a round "stopper" with a set screw on the end of the shaft.

Should I just look for a new gear/shaft?

Also forgot to ask. The stock dist. has/had in addition to the o-ring a flat paper gasket under the base. I've not seen this in my past small block experiance. Should a new one be sourced?

some years of SB dizzys use the O ring & some use the flat gasket. there's no problem using both but the flat gasket must be thin or it excessively reduces the depth of the dist tang into the intergear slot. If I'm reading this right the FC lower shaft/tang is a bit too long & wont seat into the intergear slot. I'd measure exactly how much longer the FC lower shaft and or the end tang is over the stocker & depending on that amt either a thick base gasket or trimming the dist tang end may take care of this but as you know you need a certain amt of tang length to properly engage the intergear slot. do some measureing & go from there. The coupler is an add on to reduce rotational play in the intergear slot/lower shaft tang interface to lessen spark scatter. You can use it on the FC & I'm assuming they both have a 1/2" shaft but take care of the primary problem first.

It's not that the tang is too long it just will not fit into the slot on the gear. It will start but no more then a mill or so.

Was there ever any difference on the gear tang sizes over the years or do I just have a "bad one"

Good to know about the flat gasket as well.

When I talk to firecore I'll ask about the coupler as well.

the tangs were all the same. I'd say the FC tang is a bit out of spec & needs a slight bit of trimming/deburring so it will fit the intergear slot. It's fine to do that just deburr any sharp edges to stop future stress risers & you want a reasonable amount or more of tang depth into the intergear slot. Just compare it to the OE one. sounds like you need to deburr the tang thinner rather than shorten it. EDIT take the big O ring off to get its' (potential) interference out of the way till you get the lower tang fit taken care of

Hmmm ..
Thats interesting ...
I guess get the mics out ...

That's why you have a flat file in your toolbox.

R.

That would be the first Firecore distributor I have ever seen with fit issue.I've personally installed about a dozen of these distributors and they all fit tight but as stated already it was the O-ring tight.
Could there possibly be an issue with the drive gear? Someone may have filed your factory distributor shaft to fit the drive in the block
Gus

Well it was my side of the fence that had the problem. I picked up a new mopar performance drive gear and it fit the tang on the distributor like a glove. Everything is back in and running now.

Ordering a set of the Firecore 50 wires to match the dizzy now.

Cool Glad it all worked out you will love the Firecore50 ignition system.
Gus

Just running a stock style coil. For a street cruiser is there much benefit to swap the the capacative discharge coil they sell?

Mopar Orange box

You shouldn't use that coil with an orange box.I would recommend a better ignition like a revnator or an older MSD unit.
If you decide to stay with the orange box go with the standard MSD Blaster coil.
Gus