Reply to "Double pinning distributor gear?"

George Fascinating perspective and visual. I was unaware that the shaft's were designed to twist to that magnitude with out failure.

Frankly, I assumed they could flex; however, any flex that resulted in a permanent twist, I thought, would soon result in a broken shaft not far down the road. We've dismantled quite a few 351C engines among Space City members and I've never even seen a bent shaft.

OK, so my question is this. What is your source of knowledge around this design feature. In house Ford produced documents on the Clevelands design, A trusted engine builder, design papers of another engine that uses an oil pump shaft?

Seeing is believeing and I do not doubt the shaft's design can serve that purpose. However, you state with emphatic confidence that this was an intended design element by Ford engineers. I'd really like to know whether this is reasonable conjecture based on visual observation of the twisted shaft or does this design element exist stated in a document produced by Ford or it's engeeneers responsible for the engine's design?

I'm trying to cut through fact and Panteraspeak before I relate this insight to others in the future. Thanks