OK, so this is probably so simple for everybody else, but it is something that I have always had trouble with and really dread...

What is the trick for installing the distributor so that it drops right into the oil pump drive shaft? I know where I want the rotor to point, I look to see how the shaft is pointing, I move the oil pump thingie so that it lines up, but I still can't seem to get it... I've had one of my sons do it for me now & then and he seems to get it pretty quickly...

Once you have the oil pump thingy lined up. It should drop right in?

David, what I've always done is start the distributor in nearly a full "wire tower" CCW from where it whould be. One tooth on the gear, you'll feel it. It will slide down and stop 3/8" too high, and the rotor will still be CCW from where it should be. Then crank the engine and it will fall in.

I always looked at the distributor shaft end, with the rotor pointed at the # 1 cylinder. Note: the location of the oil pump drive. Then look in the engine and turn oil pump drive with a long screwdriver, to the "mirror image" of what the end of your distributor looked like. I say "mirror image" so when you flip the distributor over to drop it in, the drives will line up.

The drive gear is cut on an angle not straight up and down. When you are ready to drop in the dist and have the slot lined up with the blade in the end of the gear rotate the rotor counterclockwise about 1 1/2 plug positions (imagine the cap in place) and drop the dist in. You may have to jiggle the rotor back and forth to get the gear to engage. As it does the rotor will move back to the position (clockwise) you wanted it in and the blade should drop right into the slot and seat properly.

To see this in reverse and get a better idea how much to offset the rotor before incerting the dist, watch the rotor when you pull it next time. You can even mark it as you pull it to make it easier for install...

Yeah, I had already made the observation about the gear and it moving as it engaged... I'll keep trying every now & then, or just ask Adam to go do it for me (and watch as it only takes him a minute). Thanks :)

what I have done in the past is get it i right with the cam gear right have some one apply light down force on the distrib then bumb the motor and it should fall right into place. it worked in my 402bbc so i think it should work for you