distributor not going in 1992 240sx

[1sorrydrifter]

ijust got done doing a head gasket replacment on a 1992 240sx, the head was shaved .20 thousandths but now my distributor wont go in, without turnin the motor, when i finally got it in i turned the engine over and it wouldnt start, upon removal of the distributor i noticed that the two gears are grinding together like they are fitting together too tight, anyone have any thoughts??

[bone_stock_240]

maybe it didn't start because your timing was significantly off. Did you check it? I had problems when I took out my distributor because I aligned the marks at the end, but when I put it in, it would rotate 90 degrees from where I wanted it. So I pulled off the cap and made sure that when the distributor was slid in, it was at position 1 with the motor at top dead centre. If you get that far and it still doesnt work, try changing around the position of the spark plug wires because you may be at TDC on the exhaust stroke. Then when you get it up and running, make sure you retime it. What makes you think the gears are grinding?

[1sorrydrifter]

i pulled the front cover back off any there were metal shavings on both gears, ive had the distributor out of my last 240 plenty of times and never saw any metal shavings and there were none on either gear when i took it all apart or put it back together on this one, also when i try to put the distributor in it wont go unless i turn the motor over and it will slowly suck it in, then to remove it i have to turn the motor backwards, i thought maybe there was something hangin the distributor to the front cover but with the cover off the distributor goes right in with no resistance, i know the timing was off, thats not my concern, my problem is why are the gears grinding together??

[bone_stock_240]

That is weird. Shaving the head wouldn't change the position of the distributor or the other gear at all. Wish I could help you bud.

[1sorrydrifter]

well turns out shavin the head can cause this, middle timing gear bolts straight to the head which in turn would set it closer to the distributor gear, my solution was simple, we looked and the timing cover was sittin about 1/16th higher than the head, so in turn we cut the head gasket where it normally goes under the timing cover and problem solved, put it all back together and runs like a charm, now i hope this doesnt cause any problems but i cant see why it would ill keep ya posted after i get to run it good a couple times

[silpena]

plus 1 with sorry drifter. You need to cut the head gasket off on the front cover or shave the timing cover. I has to this on my car after shaving the hea. I wouln't jam in there like that unless u wanna buy a whole new distributor. Just cut it and your all set. Been running my car for almost 2 weeks now and no probloms. idles fine even with a sligh vac leak.