Chrysler Repair: distributer, distributer cap, dodge rampage

Question
Hi Roland,
I realize this question doesn't fit your exact area of expertease but maybe you can still help me.  I have a 1982 Dodge Rampage I am trying to fix up for my daughter.  I need to replace the distributer because one of the distributer cap screws snapped off when I tried to replace the cap.  I have seen pictures of the distributer on the internet and the end that goes into the engine looks like it has two "prongs" instead of a gear like I am used to seeing.  I ordered a rebuilt distributer from Rock Auto whose picture of the part also had two prongs.  I got it today and it has a gear at the end.  Is it the correct one.  The part numbers match but the picture doesn't.  I didn't want to remove the old one until I was sure the new one was correct.  I've only done this 1 or 2 times and I know it can be a pain.  The 2 prongs looked easy...50-50 chance of getting it correct.  Even I could do that.  Please help.  Jeff

Answer
Hi Jeff,
I wouldn't worry about removing the old distributor in order to look at the drive end. The main trick is to observe and document exactly which direction the rotor is facing at this point, and make sure that the crankshaft doesn't get turned in the meantime until you can reinsert the new distributor so the rotor faces to exactly the same place. This is easy as you said if there is a 2-prong setup. If it is a gear, then you have several meshing points to consider, but you just have to try all the possibilities until you get the rotor to return to the original position when it is pushed all the way down. You might get a handle on this: while you begin to pull the old one up, if the rotor begins to turn, then you have the gear on the end, and what I would suggest is that you go ahead and pull it the rest of the way out, but notice what position the rotor is in when the gear unmeshes totally. Then position the rebuilt's shaft/rotor in the same way when you insert it, and then when you push it back down the rotor should end up in the original position. If it doesn't rotate, then you have the 2 prong situation and you need to return the rebuild for a different model.
Also, note very carefully the position of the outer shell of the old distributor, and even paint a mark on its body and the adjacent spot on the block down where is it clamped. Then when you put in the replacement try to get the body of the new one (also paint a mark on it similarly as the mark on the removed one) so its paint mark lines up with the mark on the block. That way your distributor will be timed close enough to be able to restart the engine, and then make a final adjustment with the timing light at idle speed. I don't happen to know the timing spec but the parts store should be able to tell you.
Roland