How can I tell if the distributor gear is steel or cast iron?

depends on the alloy percentages.

https://www.google.com/search?q=melting+point+for+ferro+molybdenum+alloy+&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-1-ab

92 getting back a bit ..yes might be a hard thing to source
.may have to go across states ......it is postable .

a wrecker or junk yard ..private one being parted out
..ebay if lucky

aluminum ..can it be welded ?
is it an upper and lower bracket or a one piece ?

Here is Holden\'s Alloytec V6 in glorious technical detail.



The global V6 engine is the first V6 engine program to address what Thomas G. Stephens, group vice president, GM Powertrain, says is a vital initiative: to develop world-class engines with fully contemporary features - such as dual overhead cams and variable valve timing - but at a competitive cost structure that allows use of the engines in a global mix of vehicles.



Exhaust: 111 degrees BTDC initial timing

50 crankshaft degrees retard authority



Compression Ratio:10.2:1



Bore Centers:103 mm



Firing Order:1-2-3-4-5-6



Fuel Shutoff:6,700 rpm



Engine Idle Speed:600 rpm



Fuel System:Sequential port fuel injection (returnless)



Engine Management:Torque-based; Bosch Motronic ME 9 32-bit micro-hybrid controller



Intake Manifold:Dual-plenum, equal-length with 2-position variable volume control (resonance tuned)



Throttle:68-mm single bore; electronic control (ETC)



Ignition:Individual coil-on-plug; individual cylinder knock control



Fuel Requirement:Premium fuel recommended



Emissions Controls:Dual close-coupled catalytic converters (1.15L ultra-thinwall ceramic)

Positive crankcase ventilation (PCV)

Intake- and exhaust-cam phasers (EGR)

Evaporative emissions system



Assembly Sites:St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada

Port Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Material Applications



Block Material:Aluminium, precision sand-cast 319 with cast-in-place iron liners



Cylinder Head Material:Aluminium, semi-permanent mould 319



Intake Manifold:Upper: Aluminium, sand-cast 319

Lower: Aluminium, 356-T6



Exhaust Manifold:High-silicon moly cast iron



Camshaft Covers:Injection compression thermoset composite; vibration isolated



Front Cover:Diecast 380 aluminium; internal multilayer damping panels



Crankshaft:Forged steel



Connecting Rods:Sinterforged steel



Pistons:Aluminium, polymer-coated skirts, full-floating wristpins



Main Bearing Caps:6 bolt caps, copper-infiltrated sintered steel



Oil Pan:Structural diecast aluminium, steel windage and baffle plates



Additional features:Pressure-actuated piston-cooling oil jets

Extended-life sparkplugs, coolant, accessory belts

Cartridge-style, top-access oil filter

Oil-level sensor

Wide-range oxygen sensors

Two things to engage, the oil pump shaft on bottom and the camshaft gear on to the distributor shaft. I sometimes crank the engine by hand while pressing down on thedistributor until the distributor falls all the way into fully seated.

Yes, actually they are casting plugs that hold the supports for the inner sand core that allow casting a water channel in the block. Steel plugs are hammered into these holes to seal up the block, and in the old days when people used alcohol antifreeze that often boiled off and left pure water in the block, and it froze. The expansion of freezing water pushed thes steel plugs out if you were lucky and did not split the block.

There is one of these plugs on the back of the engine, especially if the engine is a cast iron block. You may be able to put in some antifreeze that has more antileak compound than normal antifreeze. Check with a parts supply store. Also see http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_fix_an_antifreeze_leak

be aware that some sealants clog the radiator at times.

1997 stock Chevy Malibu has aluminum alloy heads and a cast iron block.

In 96' GM has a certain way of doing things since timing is not adjustable, what you will need to do is this.

Bring the engine up to Top Dead Center (TDC) of cylinder number 1. Make sure it is on the compression stroke.

1. Remove the distributor cap screws and cap to expose the rotor.
2. Align the pre-drilled indent hole in the distributor driven gear with the arrow cast into the upper portion of the shaft housing. The rotor segment should point to the cap hold down mount nearest the flat side of the housing.
3. Using a long screw driver, align the oil pump drive shaft in the engine in the mating drive tab in the distributor.
4. Guide the distributor into place, making sure the locating slot in the distributor base fits over the dowel pin in the intake manifold. -
5. ONCE The DISTRIBUTOR IS FULLY SEATED, the rotor segment should be aligned with the pointer cast into the distributor base. This pointer will have a "6" cast into it, indicating the distributor is to be used in a 6 cylinder engine. if the rotor segment does not come within a few degrees of the pointer, the gear mesh between the distributor and camshaft may be off a tooth or more. If this is the case, repeat the procedure again to achieve proper alignment.

hope this helps out.

Hi Friend: Which Distributor? You need to know what your enging had in it, Cast and Steel Gears ARE NOT Interchangable and can cause servere Damage.
You'll need to get you Enging Casting #=Number off your Engine. You Might be able to find out by the VIN # .Either Way Get your ID # it should be on your Intake Manifold Its underneath your Ingnition Coil, or Towards the Front of Intake Manifold.Get some Good Degreaer and Clean the Intake GOOD and a Bright Light .You Should be able to See it with No Problem.
If you need more Assistance Please let me Know. From -==d_hubbs

Make sure the tensioner is tight to the specifications and in propper place.
See CHECKING YOUR TIMING BELT and TENSION.
You may need to Replace Your Timing Belt if you don't fix it putting it in tension.
Timing belt slipping off can badly damage valves, causing a damage that requires an expensive repair, do not circulate if timing belt is not OK, see :Cost estimate for valve job after timing belt slip

Hey Joejil... I'm having the exact same problem that you had. I'd love a little help letting me know how you resolved the problem! I cut the bolt today to remove the alternator. Now to put it back together!