Reply to "Role pin for distributor - setup unclear"

I'll elaborate on what Chris wrote above: if your distributor gear is too high or too low on the shaft, it will wear out VERY quickly. There's an article on the Ford Performance web site that describes the procedure for setting the height of the gear. Also, the gear must be a press fit on the shaft or the pin(s) will eventually fail.

Finally, the application is more suited to split pins than roll pins, in spite of the fact roll pins usually have greater shear strength than a split pin of similar size. This is because split pins will take an impact and "spring" back without damage. Roll pins, on the other hand, are weakened by an impact.

Double pinning is a good idea, just make sure the splits in the pins are 180 degrees apart and that the inner pin fits tightly inside the outer. A dab of epoxy on the inner pin helps to keep it in place.