Distributor shaft not turning anymore!

Andysm38 · Post by **Andysm38** » Thu May 08, 2014 9:30 am

Thanks Wes!

I will do my best to accomplish all of that.

Any idea where I could purchase the anti-rattle clip?

Post by **wesk** » Thu May 08, 2014 10:26 am

I haven't bought one in years. Go to your M38 Parts Manual ORD 9 SNL G-740 pahge 146, last item. PN's are: IAT55 (Auto-lite/Prestolit), 7347355 (Ordnance #), 5360-00-361-7935 (National Stock #), 637615 (GM #), GPW12083 (Ford #) then run google searches on those numbers.

There is one outfit that specializes in rebuilding Willys distributors:
http://www.willysdistributors.com/id5.html

Andysm38 · Post by **Andysm38** » Thu May 08, 2014 12:25 pm

Well it "turns out" (no pun intended) that the oil pump is in fact NOT turning...
(yes- I made sure to pressure on the belt and saw the pulley from the camshaft turning)

Andysm38 · Post by **Andysm38** » Thu May 08, 2014 1:04 pm

sorry -the crankshaft I meant - not the camshaft

Andysm38 · Post by **Andysm38** » Thu May 08, 2014 5:37 pm

John at Midwest Military has the ani-rattle clip!

I'm going to inspect the timing gear now to see if that might be the source of the problem.

Andysm38 · Post by **Andysm38** » Sat May 10, 2014 5:07 pm

Well it doesn't look like the timing gear is the reason for the non-turning oil pump:

https://picasaweb.google.com/1106058457 ... directlink

Next: I'm taking the oil pan off and take a look there.

Andy

Post by **wesk** » Sat May 10, 2014 6:57 pm

Why not just pull the oil pump and check the oil pump driven gear and pin? The pan will not give you anymore access.

Andysm38 · Post by **Andysm38** » Sat May 10, 2014 6:59 pm

Perfect! Sounds good and will do!

Andysm38 · Post by **Andysm38** » Sun May 11, 2014 11:56 am

Here is the troublemaker:

https://picasaweb.google.com/1106058457 ... directlink

RICKG · Post by **RICKG** » Sun May 11, 2014 12:06 pm

Let's hope the cam gear survived!!

Post by **wesk** » Sun May 11, 2014 4:47 pm

Not usually! Andy, when you shop for the pump gear and cam make sure you get the late gear drive cam setup and not the early chain drive cam setup. The chain drive cam turns backwards to yours.

Andysm38 · Post by **Andysm38** » Sun May 11, 2014 5:23 pm

Hi Wes,

Just so that I learn from all this, do you mind explaining what most likely happened here? I assume the pump most likely failed first and then damaged the camshaft?

How do you know that I need the late gear?

I realize I need a complete new oil pump and also a whole new camshaft? Anything else?

Thanks for your help and time!

Andy

Post by **wesk** » Sun May 11, 2014 6:46 pm

The photos of the front of your engine shows a gear driven camshaft not the early chain driven cam shaft.

If the engine laid around a long time it's very possible moisture corroded the pump and the pump seized. The pin in the pump's driven gear should have sheared.

Andysm38 · Post by **Andysm38** » Sun May 11, 2014 7:28 pm

Ok. How does this one look to you:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Willys-M38-NOS- ... 57&vxp=mtr

Post by **wesk** » Sun May 11, 2014 7:56 pm

NOS generally means it's been around in storage a lot of years. Quality of storage determines quality of part. Think moisture and corrosion here. Any warranty. It is the right # and a cast iron body pump.

New with warranty from a chain parts store will be almost twice that price.