GM HEI distributor rebuild questions

Subject: GM HEI distributor rebuild questions

I'm rebuilding a '77 GM HEI distributor and have a few questions. The
GM service manual and other repair manuals don't cover these details.
Can you answer any of these?

-What grease do you recommend for the upper shaft bushing grease well?
GM no longer makes the special "GM Cranking Motor and Distributor
Lubricant" recommended in the manual. This low-viscosity grease is
supposed to flow slowly from the grease well through two holes in the
bushing to lubricate the upper shaft. One parts guy suggested Echlin
ML-2 moly lube.

-If the distributor shaft is in good shape, how can you tell if the
upper and lower bushings need to be replaced? What is the maximum
allowable clearance (shaft diameter - bushing diameter)?

-If the shaft and other parts are in good shape, but the bushings need
to be replaced, what do you do? Is this something auto machine shops
normally do - i.e. press in new bronze bushings, align, and ream to
size (to match the shaft dia.)? GM also sells the distributor housing
P/N 1876222 for about $85, but it isn't clear whether it comes with new

bushings pressed in. And Cardone rebuilt distributors (without cap and
coil) are about $100.

-Mr. Gasket sells shims/washers to adjust the shaft end play. What is
the end play spec? It's not in the Chevy manual. People have posted
anywhere from 0.005"-0.020", but others have said that it shouldn't be
under 0.015."

-Some camshaft makers say you should replace the distributor gear
whenever replacing the camshaft. Is this necessary? My iron gear
doesn't seem to have any visible wear other than the black finish
removed where the teeth engaged with the cam gear.

-The manuals show how to test all the electrical parts except the
capacitor/condenser. How do you do this?