cannot remove distributor
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 4,617
Likes: 1,547
From: Olive branch Ms
I like the old saying "when you hear hoof prints think horses not zebras", seems appropriate yet again. Glad you got it out without tearing the whole car apart.
Last edited by Robert61; Feb 4, 2017 at 03:03 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 9,151
Likes: 481
From: "You may all go to Hell- and I will go to Texas- Davy Crockett
St. Jude Donor '12
It's out. George (GCD 1962) fellow Corvette forum member was gracious enough to come over and pop it out. 2 pry bars equal pressure. Roll pin was fine. Appreciate everyone's help. And yes over 70% of the members say use more force. Spins shitty while out. But other dist that George brought fit right in. Thanks again and yes I stand up when i go to the bathroom
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 31,879
Likes: 2,413
From: Middle TN by way of KY, OH, VA, IL, CA, FL, NY, SC, HI
Whew, that's got to be a relief, not having a huge problem uncovered. Congrats.
Sounds like your old dizzy bushings may need work?
Now that you've had your big anomaly, it should all be smooth sailing from here.
Sounds like your old dizzy bushings may need work?
Now that you've had your big anomaly, it should all be smooth sailing from here.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 834
Likes: 86
From: CT
Wasn't gunk by one of rings has marks on it . It does not go back in but other spare on that George brought from 61 corvette fit right in . As tag is not on it (anymore) I might just buy new one. Does any new ones have tach drive? Car is all stock
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 14,984
Likes: 185
From: CT
It took the two of us applying equal pressure underneath the housing to get it to pop loose. The problem was with the machined part of the housing. In particular the lower two boss's just above the gear (especially the first one). Didn't have a micrometer but it appears to be slightly egg shape. You could twist the housing part way, then it became very stiff and with more effort you could get to go loose again. I put the distributor I had in and it went it normally all the way to the cam gear. I took it out, tried the problem one again and at the first machined boss it would not slip in. Didn't force it, but that is where the problem was. Must have been made that way as there is no damage anywhere.
In any case, problems solved and Daren was smart not to force anything or initially go to an extreme.
In any case, problems solved and Daren was smart not to force anything or initially go to an extreme.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 31,879
Likes: 2,413
From: Middle TN by way of KY, OH, VA, IL, CA, FL, NY, SC, HI
It took the two of us applying equal pressure underneath the housing to get it to pop loose. The problem was with the machined part of the housing. In particular the lower two boss's just above the gear (especially the first one). Didn't have a micrometer but it appears to be slightly egg shape. You could twist the housing part way, then it became very stiff and with more effort you could get to go loose again. I put the distributor I had in and it went it normally all the way to the cam gear. I took it out, tried the problem one again and at the first machined boss it would not slip in. Didn't force it, but that is where the problem was. Must have been made that way as there is no damage anywhere.
In any case, problems solved and Daren was smart not to force anything or initially go to an extreme.
In any case, problems solved and Daren was smart not to force anything or initially go to an extreme.
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Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 26,118
Likes: 1,874
From: Greenville, Indiana
I am thinking something here is bent. How, I have no idea.
I'd check the distributor gear for strange looking wear because the cam gear might be damaged from a bent shaft or??????????????
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,537
Likes: 280
From: Egg Harbor Township NJ
2015 C2 of Year
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10, '14-'15
Con Grats....BUT............More Things await you down the road. This was just a test of your ability to deal with the "Plastic Fantastic."
Yah All Come Back Now....
Of course we will be here to help. Good Luck with the rest of your project.
Yah All Come Back Now....
Of course we will be here to help. Good Luck with the rest of your project.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 14,984
Likes: 185
From: CT
I really don't think it was bent (very hard to do with the casting) as the binding was at the first machined ring just above the gear. My guess is that it was not machined in line with the other rings. It was the only ring that should any marks from bad (tight) fit. When turning the housing before it was out it would turn easy, then hard as rotated. Once that ring was past the first hole in the block it became a little easier. There was still some resistance at the second hole, but none after that (the third hole is larger).
No damage or wear was on the gear. We looked down the hole in the engine and all seemed fine. It was just that one ring that was machined wrong creating the binding. Couldn't tell how hard it was to go in, but OP never had to take it out after getting the car. It maybe took a little effort, but who knows.
Best thing to do at this point is to get another distributor as mine went in and out as normal - no force at all.
Last edited by GCD1962; Feb 4, 2017 at 05:40 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 4,797
Likes: 239
From: Ocean Township NJ
The force was by the leverage from the tools we used so hard to tell exactly how much force was used. Once positioned it took a couple of hard slaps on the handles to get it out.
I really don't think it was bent (very hard to do with the casting) as the binding was at the first machined ring just above the gear. My guess is that it was not machined in line with the other rings. It was the only ring that should any marks from bad (tight) fit. When turning the housing before it was out it would turn easy, then hard as rotated. Once that ring was past the first hole in the block it became a little easier. There was still some resistance at the second hole, but none after that (the third hole is larger).
No damage or wear was on the gear. We looked down the hole in the engine and all seemed fine. It was just that one ring that was machined wrong creating the binding. Couldn't tell how hard it was to go in, but OP never had to take it out after getting the car. It maybe took a little effort, but who knows.
Best thing to do at this point is to get another distributor as mine went in and out as normal - no force at all.
I really don't think it was bent (very hard to do with the casting) as the binding was at the first machined ring just above the gear. My guess is that it was not machined in line with the other rings. It was the only ring that should any marks from bad (tight) fit. When turning the housing before it was out it would turn easy, then hard as rotated. Once that ring was past the first hole in the block it became a little easier. There was still some resistance at the second hole, but none after that (the third hole is larger).
No damage or wear was on the gear. We looked down the hole in the engine and all seemed fine. It was just that one ring that was machined wrong creating the binding. Couldn't tell how hard it was to go in, but OP never had to take it out after getting the car. It maybe took a little effort, but who knows.
Best thing to do at this point is to get another distributor as mine went in and out as normal - no force at all.
If the two "rings" are egg shaped, then how did the distributor go in the first, and all the times after, including when the OP said it was last removed in the mid eighties?
I hope that someone will mike both "rings" and confirm they are egg shaped?
If not, then the entire housing is bent, dinged or damaged, or there's metallic crap in the engine that we're missing.
Or the engine block itself has been deformed or dinged. Those annuli form a seal to maintain oil pressure.
This needs further investigation before closing the book on it.
Last edited by 65tripleblack; Feb 4, 2017 at 11:52 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 6,538
Likes: 1,947
From: Folsom CA
I hope you guys had time for a cold beer! This job certainly earned one or a few.Nice work. If you don't need an exact number match replacement new and rebuilt distributors are available. Glad it is behind you!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,882
Likes: 2,178
From: Chicopee MA.
Does anyone else have a problem that I can help him with?