Distributor stake marks

[Jeffrey S.]

I have read many posts that refer to stake marks on the distributor and intake manifold that should be lined up at installation. The AIM also has a note that they should be lined up. Where on the intake and the distributor are the marks exactly? I have found something on the distributor that looks like it probably is the mark but I cant find anything on the manifold and I am probably looking in the wrong place. Lets assume that the front of the engine is at 6 o'clock and the rear is 12 o'clock. Where should I look? Or was it done randomly once the distributor was installed at the Flint engine plant? As always you help is greatly appreciated.
Jeff

[Patrick H.]

Re: Distributor stake marks

Jeff, they are usually about 12 oclock using your reference, but I've seen anywhere from 10 to 2. That's a way of saying they are generally toward the back. Also note that the distributor and intake have to both be original to the engine (or at least to each other) for the marks to be useful.

[Wayne M.]

Re: Distributor stake marks

Here's a shot with a 1111093 distrib (off a '66 L72) on a 3866963 manifold (off a '65 L78); area of interest circled in red. Colvin refers to them as "factory distributor punch timing mark (s)". He mentions that this location is for big blocks, and is different from small blocks. I don't have a small block example to show.

[Terry M.]

Re: Distributor stake marks

Here's a shot with a 1111093 distrib (off a '66 L72) on a 3866963 manifold (off a '65 L78); area of interest circled in red. Colvin refers to them as "factory distributor punch timing mark (s)". He mentions that this location is for big blocks, and is different from small blocks. I don't have a small block example to show.

SB are only a little different, and given the random nature and the many people doing this, I doubt we can say definitively that one location is BB or SB – all due respect to Mr. Colvin. Mine is at 12 o'clock using Jeffery's terminology, and I need a mirror to see it. This mark is only useful, as Patrick points out, if the distributor and intake are the same originally installed on that engine. I would think the cam and perhaps even the timing chain would need to be original, and maybe even the crankshaft and timing gears as well. But I really don’t know how far this carries because some of those parts are machined to rather close tolerances. Then again, the more of them changed the less confidence one can have in the accuracy of the mark(s).

[Patrick H.]

Re: Distributor stake marks

Small blocks may not look that much different, but you'll have to look close on your iron intake, Jeff, as the dent won't be so deep.

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Distributor stake marks

Thanks for the responses. The distributor and intake are original to the car. I think I found the mark on the distrib. which looks very much like the example pictured above. The timing chain and all the internals are all new. I have it installed now so the nipple of the VAC is just behind the shielding box upright which is as shown in the AIM. The mark I found is in the 12 O'clock position. I will try to find the mark on the manifold. Of course the smart thing would have been to look for this BEFORE the engine was installed in the car. But who ever said I was smart!
Jeff

[Edward J.]

Re: Distributor stake marks

Jeff the mark on the intake really only a ref. point. on a engine that has a new timing chain and gears, otherwise as the chain wears the dist. will be moved off that mark to reset timing to factory spec.s

[Patrick H.]

Re: Distributor stake marks

Jeff,

Attached is the stake mark on a 1972 cast iron intake.

Patrick