Vacuum canister obstructed by oil sending unit

[70chall440]

Can you tighten the sender enough to get the required clearance? Just a thought?

Try this first, I have seen a number of them that were not screwed down enough (you don't need much). It is a tapered thread on the sending unit so it can feel tight before it is to a degree. That said, do not "gorilla grip" and snap it off either.

[Aar1064]

I believe the factory assembly line sending units are shorter then aftermarket sending units. That's probably the issue. Reindexing the intermediate shaft should work.

Well it's clear that the original is shorter by just the right amount. I'm afraid to tighten more to lower it because it's tight as is and if it broke, you'd need to put me in a straight jacket.

I'm still pondering about what to do. Reindex or look for other sending units. Will post with results.

[Cuda Cody]

I used a new one and didn't have any issue.  Maybe there are different size new ones out there?   

[Stein]

If you don't care about orginal, just put a 45 degree fitting on it.

[Roadman]

If you don't care about orginal, just put a 45 degree fitting on it.

                                 

[71GranCoupe]

Another possibility would to be to shorten the nipple enough to get it where the distribnutor will clear the sending unit. It looks that the nipple may belong enough, but only positive with it in hand. You would need pipe die for it and many tap and die sets have the small piping dies. You would need to insert an obstruction to keep shavings from getting lodged in the unit. Remove the obstruction when finished, or just buy one that fits. 

[Aar1064]

I used a new one and didn't have any issue.  Maybe there are different size new ones out there?   

With an original dual point distributor? These may be shorter that electronic. If original, do you remember where you got sending unit?

[anlauto]

Standard PS59 available at RockAuto has an overall height (including the little nub on top) of 3&7/16" .....a lot shorter then the new one in your picture

[Aar1064]

Standard PS59 available at RockAuto has an overall height (including the little nub on top) of 3&7/16" .....a lot shorter then the new one in your picture

Sorry @anlauto photo didn't have the right angle. It's actually 3 1/2" tall and I need it to be at least a 1/4" shorter. As you can see from the previous picture, the top of the original is crushed a little so it's hard to get a exact on it but I'd say it's a little more than a quarter inch shorter.

[70chall440]

Might be able to shorten it but they are tapered threads so it is just as likely if you cut off 1/4" it will not thread in or just barely.

[Cuda Cody]

Wonder if there is a way to get specs on these different units to see if one of them is shorter?  If it was me, I would just change where the distributor canister sits by adjust the gear that keys in the oil pump.     Easy, fast and cheap to try first.  Then if that doesn't work I would start looking for a shorter Sending Unit.

[anlauto]

  Just move the distributor

[A.Gramz]

  move it a bit.  Or cut it and re tap. I think If I remember it's 1/4 npt die you need (tapered pipe thread)

[Cuda Cody]

That cut and re-tap is a good idea.  If you can't get it to work by moving the keyed gear, the a cut cut and re-tap should be the ticket!

Or cut it and re tap.

[Aar1064]

I've checked these as well as a Borg Warner and they're the same length. I'm going to cut and get a die. This should take care of it. The things we do for our cars.