Distributor cap on an 87
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,771
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From: Cuyahoga Falls Ohio
Distributor cap on an 87
I changed the egr temp sensor on my 87 today. What a pain in the tush, but with my son's help, we got it. As part of the work, we were going to take the distributor cap off to get extra clearance. Nope. There's one screw back closest to the firewall that I couldn't get to. What's it take to loosen that, an articulating socket extension?
And, are those screws captive on the cap, (I hope)? If not, that's going to be a big mess.
And, are those screws captive on the cap, (I hope)? If not, that's going to be a big mess.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,771
Likes: 1
From: Cuyahoga Falls Ohio
There are 4 screws. If you're standing at the nose of the car, looking at the windshield, the connectors for the tach are on the right and slightly pointed back to toward the firewall. There is a screw right by that connector, there's one forward, to the left side of the plenum, another all the way on the left, getting closer to the firewall, and one last screw, where the cowel dips in, the screw is there.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,326
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From: Summerland B.C. Canada
If your dizzy is not in this position, it's going to make it tough every time.
You might want to re and re the dizzy so future cap removals are easier. A flexible shaft extension would help get the buried screw.
You might want to re and re the dizzy so future cap removals are easier. A flexible shaft extension would help get the buried screw.
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Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,339
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From: port charlotte fl
I changed the egr temp sensor on my 87 today. What a pain in the tush, but with my son's help, we got it. As part of the work, we were going to take the distributor cap off to get extra clearance. Nope. There's one screw back closest to the firewall that I couldn't get to. What's it take to loosen that, an articulating socket extension?
And, are those screws captive on the cap, (I hope)? If not, that's going to be a big mess.
And, are those screws captive on the cap, (I hope)? If not, that's going to be a big mess.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 17,640
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From: Lenoir City TN
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
Something strange going on here.If you look at the picture thats posted the egr sensor is sitting right there next to the distributor.Taking the cap off isn't going to make the job easier.Mines an '87 and all i do is drop a 5/8 wrench on there and off it comes.You can get the rear screw with a nut driver with extension.
The connector is way behind the distributor, you can access that easier with the dist. cap removed.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: port charlotte fl
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,771
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From: Cuyahoga Falls Ohio
You can make the distributor "square"? I thought it's position set the timing, so that there's not much in the way of options on it's position?
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Down East NC
There are 4 screws. If you're standing at the nose of the car, looking at the windshield, the connectors for the tach are on the right and slightly pointed back to toward the firewall. There is a screw right by that connector, there's one forward, to the left side of the plenum, another all the way on the left, getting closer to the firewall, and one last screw, where the cowel dips in, the screw is there.
DaleD: I don't know if this helps, but I'm fairly sure my '87 is exactly as it left the factory. I pulled off the cover and took this photo and the tach connections appear to be pretty much straight to the right and the (4) screws are at the corners, pretty much square to the engine. They don't look as if they'd be difficult to reach, but I've not tried.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: port charlotte fl
Dale don't get confused!!The last time I dropped my distibutor in for some reason it just wouldn't line up with oil pump .Eventually i got it in but I'm probably two teeth out on the drive. The timing is perfect,it's just not sitting like most.As I said;;;one of these days!!
Last edited by staugur; Jul 7, 2007 at 04:38 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
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Dale don't get confused!!The last time I dropped my distibutor in for some reason it just wouldn't line up with oil pump .Eventually i got it in but I'm probably two teeth out on the drive. The timing is perfect,it's just not sitting like most.As I said;;;one of these days!!
I just turn the distributor to remove that back bolt, I always retime anyways for a cap replacement.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,771
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From: Cuyahoga Falls Ohio
DaleD: I don't know if this helps, but I'm fairly sure my '87 is exactly as it left the factory. I pulled off the cover and took this photo and the tach connections appear to be pretty much straight to the right and the (4) screws are at the corners, pretty much square to the engine. They don't look as if they'd be difficult to reach, but I've not tried.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,771
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From: Cuyahoga Falls Ohio
Makes sense. I was looking for a scale or something for setting the timing, been about 100 years since I've thought of doing such a thing. Is the procedure to set the timing in the fsm?
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: CA
I would bet this problem dosn't even require a FSM to solve.