Oil pump installation!

[78 280zcar]

In my factory service manual it says to put the engine at top dead center and align the holes on the oil pump and the hole on the gear rod. It says when it is right the bell on the distributor gear will be at 11:25 but mine is at 1:35 and the rotor points exactly at the #1 spark plug, should I leave it or am I doing something wrong. :paranoid: Thanks in advance

[montoya_fan01]

You have set it one or more teeth off where it should be. Where was it before you took it apart?

[78 280zcar]

I really dont have a clue. I took the whole engine apart and rebuilt the engine, new bearings and everything else, so that is why I am asking. I had to buy a new head, new timing chain ( alot of moneys spent ). But when I put the oil pump back in, I did what the FSM said to do but ended up wrong or right I dont know. The rotor points to the #1 spark plug though, I mean it is right on the money. Shane

[azcarbum]

If your at TDC, than i hate to tell you that your Off on the timing chain!

It should drop in with slight twist, and the angle should be 11:25.

[Dans240z]

I remember that being a pain. I put the gear in at about 12:00. I forget why, I think I must have taken some information the wrong way. Something about the books being wrong. In order to get the engine to run I had to either advance or retard (I think it's the second one) the distributor all the way. I realized that The books must have been correct with 11:25 and I got it to run well.

If you're at TDC, it sounds like you could just drop the gear out and try again. You should be able to turn the oil pump to properly adjust the spindle. I had to do it with a helper to tell me when it was in the right place.

Hope this helps, haha, hope it's quality info.

[78 280zcar]

I dont think that I am off on the timing chain. I had both the timing marks on the right side and both camshaft keys and crankshaft keys pointing up. It took me quite a while to get the timing right. I will probably end up doing what dans240z is talking about. Thanks guys for the info.

[montoya_fan01]

I remember that being a pain. I put the gear in at about 12:00. I forget why, I think I must have taken some information the wrong way. Something about the books being wrong. In order to get the engine to run I had to either advance or retard (I think it's the second one) the distributor all the way. I realized that The books must have been correct with 11:25 and I got it to run well.

If you're at TDC, it sounds like you could just drop the gear out and try again. You should be able to turn the oil pump to properly adjust the spindle. I had to do it with a helper to tell me when it was in the right place.

Hope this helps, haha, hope it's quality info.

Instead of 11:25, the actually setting is more like 11:29 ; if you set the shaft like that, you wouldn't have to retard the timing to get it running well. BTDT.

Don't believe me, talk to sblake01; I believe that he's familiar with the difference between reality and the pic in the books that we alll see.

[78 280zcar]

I just went ahead and set it the way the FSM said to do at 11:25 or 11:29. I will see what happens when I start her sunday or monday whenever I get done putting everything back together. Thanks

[montoya_fan01]

These are the pictures I found in the gallery that helped me when I replaced my oil pump. If it wasn't for these photos, I might still be trying to get my engine to start!

The first pic shows what worked for me. I called it 11:29

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The second pic shows what didn't work for me, it's what my manual said was correct, but the engine wouldn't start. 11:25

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The third pic shows, (from the description in your first post), on the left it looks like what you were describing as 11:35 which is one tooth off from what worked for me, on the right it shows (again) what my manuals say is right, but it didn't work for me.

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[montoya_fan01]

What ever happened to this problem you were having? Which pic above, if any, shows the oil pump driveshaft orientation that you have set? It would be nice to know the resolution of your situation.

[78 280zcar]

I set it like the way you showed me but it wasnt working. The only way it would work right is the FSM way. So tomorrow I have to drain the oil and redo it. It is running awesome though without the screw for the dist hold down in it. and turned alot clockwise. I posted some pics of my finished engine in the (Shifter boot) section. I will let you know how it runs tomorrow. Shane

[montoya_fan01]

I guess I'm a little confused, posted 3 pics. which one (or two, or three, all of the above) didn't work? Which will you try next?