Regarding the
oil pump rod, if you pull the pump, the rod should just come out with the pump or drop out. I like the kind that comes with the small circle retainer clip on the shaft. It keeps the shaft from pulling out of the pump when you pull the dist. at some later date, so the rod does not fall to the bottom of the pan
Some of the HD rods may have a bigger shaft in that area to serve that purpose. I would like to hear from guys that have used the HV pump with the HD rod. The shaft is still the same size where it enters the pump and the dist., so the weak points still exist, right? I just have never used the HV pump from all the know problems. I even read a warning on Comp Cams site some time back on this problem.
There are no issues with the dist. timing if just changing the pump. The dist. gear is still engaged with the cam gear. However, if you are doing the heads then the dist. has to come out.