While I was at the Eureka Springs Corvette weekend the past few days, I was lucky enough to have Gordon Killibrew look over my car. He mentioned that my distributor looked like it was a tooth off. The part that the small wires from the harness hook up to is apparently too close to the plenum, and should be perpendicular to the plenum.

How do I go about fixing this. Is it easy/difficult? I know I will need to get a distributor hold down wrench, but what other tools will I need? I have never pulled a distributor before, so I have no idea what is involved. What should I look at while it is off? What has to come off to pull the distributor.

Also, which way do you turn the distributor to advance timing? I was going to set my timing a few weeks ago, but never got around to it.

Thanks for your help.

J :seeya

 

how bad is you car running, if you are "a tooth off" it must run like crap. your best bet is to buy a service manual which will outline step by step the procedure for distributor removal and installation.i have done this many times in my life and have never needed ANY special tools :cheers:

 

It's not that difficult to do. I just did it today. All you need is a 14mm (or 15mm?) wrench. There is one bolt that holds a bracket down to the intake to keep the dist in place. One thing, it was damn near impossible to get it out because there is very little clearance to get the wrech on there and not a lot of room to turn it. There is a bracket on one side that can't be removed until the dist is off, and there is a fuel rail mount on the other side, and there is not other way to get the wrench on besides going between these two items, that is the reason for the lack of clearance. It is probably also in there VERY tight. I had to use vice grips on it the first turn or so to get it loose enough to turn the wrench. If you use this method, make sure they are on the bolt VERY tight so that you don't strip the bolt. Good luck.

PS - I already had the plenum, runners, and fuel rail off when I did the dist, but removing the dist is the first step in my manual for engine removal, so I would suppose you would have the same access to it as with everything still on as I did with everything off. :cheers:

PPS - once you get that bolt and bracket off, just twist the distributor a little bit and it should pull out. Make sure you disconnect the 4 wire harness on the back before you take it completely out.


[Modified by dtorc4, 10:02 PM 10/6/2002]

 

Car has felt like it was down on power the last few weeks, that's why I had Mr. Killibrew look it over. He found a few other curiosities, but the distributor was his biggest concern.

J :seeya

 

:cheers: I starteed to write you a long message on this subject, but quit!

It is easy and complex at the same time.

Check your timing, if it is OK, don't worry about the distributor orientation.

If the timing is off and you can't get it right because the distributor cap can't turn to the right place...e mail me

Gordon is the Guru! :D

Jack