my engine won't turn over so we checked the ignition system. everything tested ok so we pulled the distributor cap off and there was some oil in it. i was wondering if anyone else has had this happen during their 3s swap, and if so how did you fix it? thanks.

did it on my 5sfe...

there's 2 seals in the distributor... the distributor has a shaft that goes in the head and a gear that gets driven off teh cams... this shaft has a small o-ring seal... if it's leaking you'll get 'some' oil in your distributor and a lot of oil under it... you can get this seal from napa and replace it and you're good to go.

inside the heart of the distributor is a nother o-ring seal...however since it's inside the distributor...it's usually a non replaceable seal. I've heard of someone taking the dist. apart... going to the store, getting a seal and putting it back togheter... but for the most part...if this seal is gone people will just pick up a used or remanufactured distrbituro $$$.
This leak will show alot more inside the cap since it's leaking from inside the distributor itself (rather from behind it like in the last one).

Either wya... mark your distributor (with reference to the head) before you remove it otherwise you'll have to reset the base timing later on after you reinstall

good luck