I'm in the process of installing the distributor gear/oil pump drive back into my Magnum 5.9 motor. If the motor is sitting at TDC on the firing stroke, which way should the slot be facing once the distributor gear/oil pump drive is installed in the motor? I just want to make sure I get this right, so that when I install the distributor, it will line up correctly in the block. I looked in the service manual and did not see any mention of how to install and properly orient the distributor gear/oil pump drive. Does anyone have any good tips or documentation that they can share on this issue? The motor is a 1996 Magnum 5.9 in a Dodge Ram 2500.

not sure on the 98 and back. But on my distributer, on the plate that has the sensor, you can see a line that says tdc 1 cylinder or something like that.

see where the slot points when you have the rotor pointed to that, and align your gear accordingly.

Andrew, I'm aware of the slot in the distributor and how to line it all up, however, my question is about how to install the oil pump intermediate shaft in the motor (which also has the distributor drive gear on it) and which way the slot in the gear should point (since the distributor shaft will fit into the slot on the gear on the oil pump intermediate shaft). I suspect that the slot should align with the cam (and point front to back of the motor), but I wanted to be sure. Once I put the kegger intake on the motor, the distributor gets very hard to access, so I want to install it correctly.

maybe you misunderstood.

With the rotor on the distributer lined up to tdc. See how the slot in the distrbuter is set up. front to back, left to right, some 45 degree angle.

The TDC mark/number 1 cylinder will proabably be 2 towers over from what will be the front post when the distributer is in the engine.

This will let you see how the gear you are dropping into the engine has to be aligned, for your distributer to sit in the right place at tdc.

Actually you can clock the inter gear anywhere as long as you put #1 wire on the particular cap terminal that this clocking locates the rotor under, but k.i.s.s. if your wires/firing order are already in the cap in the location you want em just clock it wherever it takes to place the rotor under the #1 wire otherwise if your starting from scratch(n) for standardization clock it so the rotor is forward and slightly toward the pass side (7 o'clock if you are standing in front of the car) and plug the #1 wire in that cap terminal and know that some dizzys have a way different dist bottom shaft tang location to top shaft rotor slot location (phasing) than other dists but the bottom line is where the rotor is pointing to & I would back the crank up slightly CCW to 10BTDC & turn the housing till the vac can is in the correct general location (has room to be turned each way) then line up the nearest reluctor tooth dead even w the magnet WITH the rotor under (or close to) the #1 cap terminal and the rotor to cap terminal phasing needs to be somewhat close & to check that make a mark on the outside of the dist housing for where the rotor is then set the cap on & check it (if the rotor is under/near the underside of the #1 cap terminal and vac adv will shift rotor phasing CCW (CW on a BB) slightly from that point (ie 8 degrees around the circumference for a can stamped 8 on the arm) and this rotor phasing (one of my Mopar obsessions) is diff from the dist bottom tang/top rotor slot phasing mentioned earlier. I am assuming you felt compression on #1 plug hole to verify your on compression rather than 6 and 12 o'clock (dot to dot) which'd put it on #6 firing EDIT (re)read the above post(s)& my info was for earlier stuff & may b out to lunch on the newer

you are correct. You do not HAVE TO base it on distributer positioning. IT IS EASIER if you do.

you can drop it in anyway you want to, but because it is a computer controled car, it specifically requires #1 to point to a specific tower on the distributer.

you cannot just move plug wires around to get the correct firing order like the older cars. you will have to turn the distributer to line up #1 after you drop it in.

It is far easier to take a moment to figure out ball park where it has to be and drop it in based on that, rather than having to line it all up afterwards.

This is just my sugguestion. Perhaps someone else will come along with the proper service manual for a 96 and see if it is different.

if you are talking about the slot in the oil pump gear, I have always installed mine so that the slot was inline with intake manifold bolt number 1. If you are keeping it computer controlled, after you fire it up you will need to take it to someone like a dealership and have your fuel sync set. At least that is how it is with my 2000 not sure about the fuel sync on the 1996

The slot goes as said aimed to the number one intake bolt. Thats the correct shaft position. Then you will have to rotate the motor to another spot and set the sync signal. I am not sure but the v-6 is one and the v-8 is another. Its in the fsm and there are degreed marks on the damper.

Thanks for the input. Got it installed and everything lines up properly.