I'm just about ready to reinstall the distributer on my 85 and noticed the clearance between the body and the cam gear seemed excessive. does anyone know what this should be?

I guess the rotational play is the key.

I assume by cam gear, you mean the gear on the distributor.

I recall the cam gear pushes upwards on the distributor shaft as it turns.

This almost sounds like he is saying that the distributor is not dropping all the way down. If so, make sure the oil pump drive is mating. Look down the hole and see what way the drive slot is facing. With a long flat head screwdriver, align it so it will mate with the flat in the distributor drive shaft when the rotor is pointed at your mark. Another method is to drop the distributor in with the rotor pointing to your mark and bump the starter or turn the crank by hand. The engine will turn and as the distributor drive gear is mated with the cam gear, it stays in time and turns with the engine until the drive shaft aligns with the oil pump drive and the distributor drops all the way down.

If this isn't what you meant, sorry to waste your time.

I assume he is talking about the end play between the gear and the dist body.Most stock dist have a excess clearance ; it can be closed up with shims so the shaft doesn't float up under load.Was more of a problem with points dist throwing the points off.
Can't recall the exact recommended clearance , only like 0.015
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MOR-26140/

The space between the gear and the distributer body is what I am asking about. Vetteoz, thanks for the info. So if I'm reading things correctly there should should be very little up and down movement on the shaft. I do have more than .015. I've shimmed distributers in the past, I just couldn't find a reference to what it should be set to.

Yes, Of course. It make perfect sense now. Way ta go OZ!