All the trans bolts are tight minus the dipstick. Does the dipstick take an o ring where it meets the transmission? I didn't think so but it doesn't hurt to ask. Also my distributor isn't sitting flush with the block. I installed the shaft and gear that meet with the oil pump and the camshaft then the distributor with a new o ring. I think the new oring is keepin it from sitting flush. The dist. hold down has already been tightened. Any suggestions. Sorry no pics.

 

The trans dip stick doesn't take an o ring. It takes a 1 inch wide rubber fitting.

 

10-4 on the trans

 

any body else

 

Trans dipstick tube may have changed year to year.

Just checked the trans dipstick tube for my 96/46re (upgraded to 48re on steriods) & about 1-1.5" from the bottom is a recess in the tube all the way around.
Looks to me that it DOES have an o-ring.
Not sure where the o-ring for mine is, powder coated everything after I disassembled the truck

Is the 97 exactly the same? Cant say but Im pretty well 98% sure my 96 does.

Do you have a recess at the bottom of the tube?

 

The distributor should drop right in assuming everything is lined up right. Recheck cam and crank timing and try again. Make sure nothing has fallen in the dist hole. I had a piece of gasket fall in there once and it caused a bunch of hell....

 

Regarding your distributor

If the distributor isnt lined up with the oilpump/dist gear below it will sit very high above being flush.
Leave the cap off the dist & turn the rotor a bit & it should just fall into place

If the dist drops all the way in but is only slightly higher than flush then chances are it is the o-ring.
The o-ring on the side of the distributor base should fit snuggly into the recessed groove & barely hang out beyond it.
Make sure it isnt nicked or if you removed the o-ring at some point that it doesnt have something in the recessed groove holding it out.
If its nicked, go to the stealer & get a replacement.

 

The dipstick does neck down to a smaller diameter about 2 inches from the end. As for the distributor i'll give it another look see. The thing that's killing me is the fact that I got injured on the job and I can't work on anything right now, at all. So I have a half installed 318 in my truck. E-fans bored .020 over Mopar valve covers a bunch of other cool stuff and I can't finish it up.

 

Sounds like your trans dipstick isnt o-ringed & just press fits in like the mtr oil dipstick.

Hear you on the injury, 2yrs ago messed up my shoulder(finishing garage interior)
Few months later rather than calling a buddy Mr impatient lifted the upgraded trans from the back of the 4x4 to a cart by myself lol. Part of the reason mines still not back together (that n pwdrcting everything) I have to be real carefull now

 

I hear ya. I'll do the same.