Distributor drive shaft bush

kma176 · Post by **kma176** » Wed Sep 13, 17 10:12 am

Does anyone have a distributor drive shaft bush tool for a small block.
Miller part number C-3053

Just need it for my stroker rebuild so didn't particularly want to buy one??

Many Thanks
Kev

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Wed Sep 13, 17 10:15 am

Nope, but I'll be happy to borrow it when you buy one

kma176 · Post by **kma176** » Wed Sep 13, 17 10:36 am

If it comes to it you'd be welcome to it

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Wed Sep 13, 17 11:49 am

I was just looking at the price of them, not exactly cheap!

kma176 · Post by **kma176** » Wed Sep 13, 17 12:13 pm

Some I've looked at want $300
others $120

TW71 · Post by **TW71** » Thu Sep 14, 17 10:10 am

On the big block I used some studding and a turned down nut the same diameter as the bushing and another nut on the top side on top of a round disc where the distributor sits and used it as a puller, failing that a drive punch, all OK if the engine is apart !

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Thu Sep 14, 17 10:43 am

Yes there are ways of removing and refitting the bush but the other benefit of the correct tool is that it swages the bush to the correct size as it installs it. You can find once installed the bush is tight on the oil pump drive and if you don't clearance it which is difficult in situ, it will stick to the drive and spin in the block, I have had that happen. So, expensive though it might be, I would want to use the correct tool.

MrNorm · Post by **MrNorm** » Thu Sep 14, 17 12:09 pm

The original factory replacement bushings were inserted then burnished with the correct tool (as shown), which as Blue said not only sized it properly but expanded it into the hole to grip properly. I'm pretty sure that some of the replacement bushings are designed to be driven in as an interference fit, then I think to be reamed to size (catering for those who did not have the factory tool.
Whether this is/was a good plan or not, be aware that there are potentially different sized bushings for the different installation methods. IIRC most aftermarket bushings are by Pioneer.

For the latter type at least (interference fit) I understand people have successfully used an old distributor shaft to drive it it and then 'ream' it to size by cutting a slot in the dist shaft (same trick as many use on cam bearings with an old camshaft).

Either way, failing to either properly secure it OR have the correct ID is to be avoided!!

MrNorm · Post by **MrNorm** » Thu Sep 14, 17 12:41 pm

Having attempted to further jog my memory, I think the Pioneer bushing is actually designed to be driven in and not require any reaming. I wouldn't install one without confirming this, but I'm pretty sure that's the bushing I have.
(In theory, it wouldn't hurt to use a reamer/slotted intermediate shaft anyway - if it were the right size, no material would be removed. Alternatively a check with a standard shaft would show whether it span freely or not)

TW71 · Post by **TW71** » Fri Sep 15, 17 12:12 pm

Blue wrote:Yes there are ways of removing and refitting the bush but the other benefit of the correct tool is that it swages the bush to the correct size as it installs it. You can find once installed the bush is tight on the oil pump drive and if you don't clearance it which is difficult in situ, it will stick to the drive and spin in the block, I have had that happen. So, expensive though it might be, I would want to use the correct tool.

I was stating about taking the old one out , not installing the new one!

kma176 · Post by **kma176** » Mon Sep 18, 17 11:27 am

Turns out the bush is not made by Pioneer its a Mopar performance one so I really need the correct tool????

MrNorm · Post by **MrNorm** » Mon Sep 18, 17 12:00 pm

I would say yes.....if you can't get the tool over here though, the Pioneer bushing is about $10 so worth thinking about

kma176 · Post by **kma176** » Wed Sep 27, 17 11:36 am

Thanks everyone for the input-I managed to borrow the miller tool and do the job properly-really easy to do with the correct tool and the more I read about it I'm so glad I waited and didn't just bash in and ream out!!!

Mopar Muscle Association UK

Distributor drive shaft bush

Distributor drive shaft bush

Re: Distributor drive shaft bush