Hey, so I'm just finishing up a head gasket job on my 1995 3.0 V6 4runner and I cannot get the distributor to sit. For some reason I cant for the life of me get the gears to line up and it just wont sit in there!
any help!!?

 

When you install the distributor it turns as it goes in..so in order for it to be set on TDC you need to turn it back a little so it can turn to number 1 while you slide it in.

 

try roatating the engine just a tiny bit, maybe the gears are interfering, the to get them to line up you just need to move the engine over to where the gear tooth isnt, like a 16th of a turn or so. Or hold the dizzy in place as far as it'll go in, and turn the distributaor shaft as you rotate the engine

 

Thanks for the tips, ill give this a try. All the resources I find are for the 4 cylinder and that distributor is a straight shot where as the 6 is on top of the head at a bit of an angle.

 

and im guessing the rotor will spin counterclockwise?

 

If I remember correct yes it would turn counterclockwise when it goes in. So turn the rotor right past the number one post so it will turn to line up.

 

I just put new heads on my 1990 3.0 v6 4runner and am also having the same problem. How did you end up getting it in? I have about a quarter inch gap between the distributor and hole can't figure out what's hitting. Any help is appreciated

 

There is an exact install procedure for the distributor..... There are two notches that line up on the distributor and then they in turn line up with a mark on the distributor housing on the head. Get all this done correctly and it will be set correctly to get the engine started and timing should be just about dead on.....

 

Alright thank you. Is there anything on the cam that needs aligned or just on the distributor?

 

Nope just the distributor.. The cams are aligned when the belt is installed.....

 

Ok thanks again I'll give it a try tomorrow when I go my garage

 

Ok so I tried it and still doesn't go in this is the gap I pulled the valve cover off to see if I could see anything but all I am seeing is the shaft doesn't look like its going all the way in the hole that's in the head?

 

This may help, or may just confuse.

My 91 3VZ-E pickup has TWO different distributors that were made that year. I had the wrong kind the first time, though it managed to fit the truck ran horrible. I'm not sure if that's the case for 95, but might be worth looking into.

 

Thanks I just took the bearing cap off and can see thelat the distributor is bigger than the hole in the head so I'm not sure what I'll do

 

Has anyone had this problem with an 88 4Runner? Do you know if there are two different distributors made that year?