3.4 Crate Distributor Leaks During Engine Timing

[raceral]

I got a question that I think might pertain to the 3.4 crate motor only, though I am not sure of that.
I have a Proform distributor in my engine that uses a paper gasket to stop oil from seeping by, this fine when everything is tightened down.

The problem I have or the thing I dont like is that I cannot lossen the distributor to time the engine without loosing a half a quart of oil out the back of the motor.

The crate motor seems to have a real high pressure oil pump, I even noticed it when I primed the engine, the dist well had oil coming into it like a fire hose after only a few turns of the drill.

I talked to a GM mechanic and he said the crate motor didn't have a provision for an 'O' ring and that is just he way it is.

Maybe that is the way GM did it but it seems a dozy way to do it.

Anybody else using a crate motor with the same issue??

Al

[geoffinbc]

No that is not true. The crate motor engine is identical to production blocks. Get that O-Ring on there it seals the end of the passenger side oil gallery. You should not need to use a paper gasket at all.

[raceral]

So I will be able to slip on an O ring in place of the paper gasket the distributor came with and then loosen the dist enough to set my timing when ever I want without loosing half my engine oil out the back of the distributor hole. Since my Proform does not have an O ring grove, it will just replace the paper one between the block and the distributor.
The O ring wont affect the distributor depth?

Al

[geoffinbc]

No you cannot do that. You must have the correct O-Ring groove in the distributor. If this distributor is specifically for a 60 Degree V6 then it should have the groove. If not I would go back to the stock one. I you want you can install a high performance module to make a bit more spark energy. But money is better spent on a better ignition coil.

[raceral]

I do not know about other Proform distributors, but mine does not have a groove for an O ring.
I did make inquiries to Proform about it, but they never once got back to me, might explain why I don't see many people using the distributor.
On the other hand once the timing is set, there should be no real reason to change it.
The distributor is leak free even with the paper gasket once it is tight.
I think it is a rather poor design, I am not joking when I say that just to set the timing you cam lose over a 1/4 quart of oil out the distributor hole.
Of course that now drips off the engine for at least a couple of weeks.

So I am pretty sure that I will go with a separate coil set up and a 83/84 distributor.

Thanks for the input guys.

Al

[geoffinbc]

If the body has material in the right area then a good machine shop should be able to remedy the situation.

[3400-95-Modified]

It's not a poor design, your using the wrong part for the application... You don't have the proper ring there to seal it.