Distributor cap removal
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
Distributor cap removal
Now I'm feeling stupid. Washed the engine and now it will not start. Was going to remove the dist. cap and rotor and dry things out. But can't figure how to remove the cap. Any help?
1985 Vette, 4X3
Thanks
Chuck
1985 Vette, 4X3
Thanks
Chuck
Cruising
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: Lebanon MO
There should be 2 I think screws that are spring loaded on the cap push them down and turn to undo the cap.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,221
Likes: 446
From: Overland Park Kansas
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
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Backout all 4 screws. There is a point where they'll release but stay in the cap. Don't try to removed them completely from the cap. Just make sure they're out of the metal base.
The cap fits VERY tight. You'll have to push the top of the cap sideways a bit to pop it off.
When you go to reinstall, notice the notch in the cap fits only one place in the base.
Do NOT loosen the bolt at the base or your timing will be changed. If you pull the plug wires, mark them so you remember which hole they go back in.
If there's a lot of miles on the car, replace the cap and rotor before installation.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,939
Likes: 1
From: Vero Beach Florida
Yep...If it's like my 89, there are 4 screws around the base of the plastic cap. They are the same size as the hex in my electric screwdriver and those hex utility sets you can buy at the hardware store. (You know...with torx, allen, screwdriver bits, etc....)
Backout all 4 screws. There is a point where they'll release but stay in the cap. Don't try to removed them completely from the cap. Just make sure they're out of the metal base.
The cap fits VERY tight. You'll have to push the top of the cap sideways a bit to pop it off.
When you go to reinstall, notice the notch in the cap fits only one place in the base.
Do NOT loosen the bolt at the base or your timing will be changed. If you pull the plug wires, mark them so you remember which hole they go back in.
If there's a lot of miles on the car, replace the cap and rotor before installation.
Backout all 4 screws. There is a point where they'll release but stay in the cap. Don't try to removed them completely from the cap. Just make sure they're out of the metal base.
The cap fits VERY tight. You'll have to push the top of the cap sideways a bit to pop it off.
When you go to reinstall, notice the notch in the cap fits only one place in the base.
Do NOT loosen the bolt at the base or your timing will be changed. If you pull the plug wires, mark them so you remember which hole they go back in.
If there's a lot of miles on the car, replace the cap and rotor before installation.
good info
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,715
Likes: 27
From: Kempner Texas
Be careful when replacing the cap because sometimes the wires can get caught under the cap and can be cut if not routed correctly through the little notch opening.
Jake
My son, Ryan M. Cameron, graduated from West Point on 22 May 2010! He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and I pinned on his first pair of "Butter Bars" PROUDEST DAY OF MY LIFE!!
Jake
My son, Ryan M. Cameron, graduated from West Point on 22 May 2010! He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and I pinned on his first pair of "Butter Bars" PROUDEST DAY OF MY LIFE!!
Last edited by JAKE; Jun 26, 2010 at 08:36 PM.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 409
Likes: 2
From: Toronto Ontario
Hey, this happened to my '84 when I was just rinsing out the engine with a little water. I didn't take anything appart, just let the car sit in the sun with the hood up for 2-3 days at least. It will dry out. Funny, last week I droped my cell phone in water and after letting the thing sit in rice (draws the moisture out) and sun for about a week the thing worked again. Good luck.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 6,470
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From: levittown pa. usa Even a bad day with my `Vette, is better than a good day at work
St. Jude Donor '10
If you mix up the plug wires, it is possible to spend many fun hours trying to get them right. I know from personal experience
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 409
Likes: 2
From: Toronto Ontario
If you really must: There are 3 bolts holding the coil cap down - remove and pull the coil cap out, pull the wires out from the connectors. Then pull out all the spark plug wires (number them if you don't remember where they go back). Then you will turn 4 "J type hook screws" until the distributor cap pulls off. Then remove the bolts from the rotor and remove. Once you get all the parts out then I don't know what you have in mind to dry them out with. I know my pictures suck but these are all I have at the moment.
As the guys said above you should not be removing the entire distributor cap, to do this you would have to get into a very tight space at the bottom with a 5/8 wrench. The fear is that you won't know how to put it back and screw up the timing and would require another thread on how to do that.
Good luck.
As the guys said above you should not be removing the entire distributor cap, to do this you would have to get into a very tight space at the bottom with a 5/8 wrench. The fear is that you won't know how to put it back and screw up the timing and would require another thread on how to do that.
Good luck.
Last edited by black88z51; Jun 27, 2010 at 10:35 PM.
