Get the head on ...
Get the head back on, fill it up with water, and pressurise the water jacket as mentioned above.
Pull the distributor out as a unit, and look down the bore of the distributor tube in the block for water running down (you really need to pressurise it to see it).
If you can see water running down that tube, a common fault, especially in Ford blocks for some reason, there is a really easy fix....
1. Cut about a 6" length of 1/2 bore copper heating tube.
2. Check it will clear your distributor shaft by trying it on there - if not put a 1/2" steel bar down the middle of it and roll it till the diameter increases a bit, then try.
3. Try it in the distributor shaft hole - needs to be quite a neat fit. Adjust the length till it matches the length of the hole. (You dont want it too long or it will hit the rotating components in the sump)
4. Cover the copper tube in gasket sealant and push it down the hole.
5. Re-fit distributor by the book and drive off ....
You are really just using copper tube covered with gasket goo to line the bore of that cast hole. If done properly it is a permanent repair, and without pulling the sump. If you do have the sump off you can neaten it up a bit top and bottom.
Gordon_M
