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I keep getting delayed in my quest to take off the cylinder head and replace the gasket. Now that I'm about to do it I realize that the distributor needs to come off which looks like it will require taking out the whole shaft assembly? My question is - does anybody have insight or suggestions for removing the distributor and being able to install it again in the exact location?

The drive slot in the top of the cam-driven shaft is slightly off-center, take note of its position before removal and do not turn the engine over unless the shaft is in place. Likewise take note of the distributor rotor position before removal. The distributor drive key is likewise slightly off center to correspond to the same feature on the distributor drive shaft. Remove the distributor at the cylinder head (3 bolts) and take note of the position of the distributor body, for example the position of the grease cup.

And in the interests of correctness, your 1100/1101/1102 is an "Eight", not a Standard Eight. The use of Standard as part of the model name ended in 1932.

Owen, thanks for getting back to me. So, just to be clear, As long as I mark the location of the rotor drive shaft it is not important as to whether any of the pistons are top dead center or not? Also, thank you for the clarification on the 'eight' name.

Yes, just don't turn the engine over before you reinstall. Note the cam-driven shaft has a square drive so it can go in 4 possible but only one correct way - that's why you must take note of it's position via the slightly off-center key slot.