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Technical Why did Chevy put the Distributor through the Intake Manifold?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by blowby, Jan 1, 2018.

  1. blowby
    Joined: Dec 27, 2012
    Posts: 8,661

    blowby
    Member
    from Nicasio Ca

    There must be a reason I'm not seeing.
     
  2. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 55,942

    squirrel
    Member

    They want you to have more fun.....

    But seriously, that's a good question. The original design of the block had a tower around the distributor, the could have put the intake gasket on either side of that tower. Later they eliminated the tower, so it would make sense to have it go through the intake.
     
    LOU WELLS likes this.
  3. ceege
    Joined: Jul 4, 2017
    Posts: 204

    ceege
    Member
    from NW MT

    Keeping the design compact is my guess.
     
  4. 302GMC
    Joined: Dec 15, 2005
    Posts: 7,856

    302GMC
    Member
    from Idaho

    Fewer parts, less machine work at the foundry.
     

  5. wayne-o
    Joined: Jan 22, 2006
    Posts: 284

    wayne-o
    Member

    Same can be asked about the timing chain cover! Why do you have to remove or loosen the pan to get it off? Had to have been an easier serviceable design.
     
    LOU WELLS and lothiandon1940 like this.
  6. blowby
    Joined: Dec 27, 2012
    Posts: 8,661

    blowby
    Member
    from Nicasio Ca

    Maybe they figured if you're having fuel problems they want you to make sure it's not ignition.

    I have to re-seal my intake, and redo my timing while I'm at it. :mad:
     
    lothiandon1940 likes this.
  7. you would want to move the spark plug wires out if the way anyway, so it is really just one bolt and a wire........thankfully they didn't make it the other way around, removing the intake to take out the distributor.:eek:
     
    ct1932ford and LOU WELLS like this.
  8. IMG_0818.JPG

    Could always be worse.....
     
    mgtstumpy, 33essex, Montana1 and 19 others like this.
  9. harpo1313
    Joined: Jan 4, 2008
    Posts: 2,584

    harpo1313
    Member
    from wareham,ma

    a base for bolting ,upper shaft support and a structure to make it a pain in the ass to hook up the oil pres line.
     
    LOU WELLS likes this.
  10. blowby
    Joined: Dec 27, 2012
    Posts: 8,661

    blowby
    Member
    from Nicasio Ca

    ^^ Yes, why didn't they put the oil line through while they were at it?

    I don't remember whether I have to jack up my trans to get the distributor past my firewall. But that's my doing. Oh well, I'm going fishing today. More time to ponder..
     
    harpo1313 and chevy57dude like this.
  11. BamaMav
    Joined: Jun 19, 2011
    Posts: 6,713

    BamaMav
    Member
    from Berry, AL

    Because they put the distributor on the wrong end of the engine!
     
    Hnstray, egads, LM14 and 2 others like this.
  12. sunbeam
    Joined: Oct 22, 2010
    Posts: 6,214

    sunbeam
    Member

    Why do car makers do most things COST.
     
  13. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 30,778

    Moriarity
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    Is this really a problem? removing and installing a chevy distributor is a very simple task in the grand scheme of things....
     
  14. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 33,861

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I've got to agree with Moriarity, it really isn't a problem in the long run. Seems like on engines that the distributor doesn't go though the manifold you have to fight the manifold around the distributor to get it out or in. That is a bigger challenge with some of the big cast iron intakes that weight 50 lbs.
     
  15. papajohn
    Joined: Nov 2, 2006
    Posts: 896

    papajohn
    Member

    Makes more sense than behind the water pump like the late model LT1's.
     
  16. Deuces
    Joined: Nov 3, 2009
    Posts: 23,757

    Deuces

    Like the fe intake....:(
    Them things are heavy!!!!
     
  17. dirty old man
    Joined: Feb 2, 2008
    Posts: 8,910

    dirty old man
    Member Emeritus

    SBF is several inches longer than SBC, mostly because of front dist.
     
    Montana1 and 302GMC like this.
  18. blowby
    Joined: Dec 27, 2012
    Posts: 8,661

    blowby
    Member
    from Nicasio Ca

    Not a problem, just an inconvienece. And in my case the vehicle sits up high enough that I have to climb up on the radiator support to get to it, and the aforementioned removing the trans mount and raising the trans to clear the firewall, and while underneath, cleaning and painting the timing marks. Then having to retime. This will take longer than putting a new bead of sealer at the manifold ends. I'd rather spend the time on other things.

    My actual question though has to do with design considerations when starting with a clean sheet. Is it a problem that FE intakes go under the valve covers and weigh whatever they do? No, but why?
     
    Ric Dean likes this.
  19. 49ratfink
    Joined: Feb 8, 2004
    Posts: 18,829

    49ratfink
    Member
    from California

    somehow it must have been cheaper that way.
     
  20. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 19,144

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

    So you know whether to paint it orange or blue.
     
  21. drtrcrV-8
    Joined: Jan 6, 2013
    Posts: 1,707

    drtrcrV-8
    Member

    Bitch! Bitch! Bitch! If the Distributor/manifold location is too complicated for you, GET A "FLATTIE"!!! LOL!
     
  22. That was for better weight distribution to rear wheels. Chevy racers all know that.
     
  23. sunbeam
    Joined: Oct 22, 2010
    Posts: 6,214

    sunbeam
    Member

    Several being 2' longer than a short pump chevy .6 inch over a long pump sbc.
     
  24. When the Distributer is driven off of the front it does eliminate a lot of cam walk through the timing which was a problem with the old SBC.
     
    loudbang likes this.
  25. dirty old man
    Joined: Feb 2, 2008
    Posts: 8,910

    dirty old man
    Member Emeritus

    Not aware of this being a real problem except with roller cam as the taper on cam lobes pushes it back, or so I've always read/been told.
    And sometimes that 2 inches is the difference between a fit with stock firewall or having to cut it. The 40 Ford being such an example.
     
    lewk likes this.
  26. zzford
    Joined: May 5, 2005
    Posts: 1,823

    zzford
    Member

    This was my EXACT thought when I first read the post ! Caddy Northstar! The engineer that designed this needs to be beaten to death!
     
    loudbang likes this.
  27. sunbeam
    Joined: Oct 22, 2010
    Posts: 6,214

    sunbeam
    Member

    I like your post But my experance is the part that hits the firewall is the distributor.
     
  28. lippy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2006
    Posts: 6,825

    lippy
    Member
    from Ks

    Its in the rear to make room for the blower drive. :D JK
     
  29. Some dead engineers legacy.....could have been worse.
     
  30. That's why they invented McCulloch superchargers, centrifugal for gas engines, not screw off of a diesel.
     

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