Thanks to everyone that replied..

Paul

Bumping the starter always worked for me. I also have a junk distributor with the camshaft gear removed and a nut welded to the top of the shaft. This lets me also turn the distributor to per prime the engine.

I usually get the distributor where I want it and then bump the motor over a little to get it all the way in.

Butchering up everything I can get my hands on in Dayton Ohio

Did you use a deep socket - it always worked for me. 1/4 inch drive too

54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

I recall this problem as well. I think I got the distributor on the gear I wanted then turned (jiggled) the engine carefully with a socket on the damper bolt until the distributor and the oil pump shaft lined up. I was able to take the valley cover off so I could see what was happening.

Mark

1956 Mercury M100
1955 Ford Fairlane Club Sedan
Delta, British Columbia

I ran into a similar situation so I just ground down the OD of a 1/4" drive socket.  Problem solved.

Probably simple, but I can't get my head around this.. Wiring of #1 was one position clockwise off on the Dist cap mark, before I removed it, with the crank at TDC. When I reinstall it, to get #1 in the right position on the cap, one position counter clockwise, am I likely to have a problem getting the oil pump drive to engage? I tried to find a quarter inch drive socket that would fit over the pump, drive rod, in case I needed to move it, but there isn't clearance to use it. The rebuilt distributor isn't back yet, but am I over thinking this?

Paul