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Any ideas how to get this broken screw out. I broke two of the four. One has enough sticking out for Vice grips but this one broke flush.
(I replaced the valve seals and need this of to find the crank position. Now I need to put it all back together)
I'm @$$uming that's not a blind hole. Maybe the tip of the screw is sticking out on the bottom to grab into? Otherwise you're probably stuck with drilling. You may be able to add heat and penetrating oil and if you're lucky the bit will grab and spin the screw through the flange and out.
Probably belabouring the obvious, but if you drill make sure you cover the distributor innards to keep chips out.
It’s not blind but there is almost zero screw protruding.
Ugh… not looking forward to drilling… it’s tiny.
You need mega patience here.
Pull the distributor out and leave it being soaked periodically with PB Blaster(or such) for two or three days. Then try carefully drilling it out.
EDIT: I would also try drilling it out from the underside. If there are any minute damaged threads where it is broke off, they will be the first out instead of being dragged through the entire threaded column.
If you have a local machine shop take it to them, it should be cheaper than a new distributor.
Not likely. The machine shop is not in China. Don't know where you live but in other forums I am on, hourly rates for the service industry are 125.00/hr plus. Lots of industries have a one hour minimum. Driving there to drop it off costs money. Driving there to pick it up costs money. What is your time worth? Is the machine shop going to also install new bushings and a new pickup coil(which a reman would have)?.
What do you think would be better? Remove the hold down and pull the distributor to be able to work at a bench under good lighting, or hunch over to the middle of the car and hope you are drilling straight?
I pulled the distributor today. Only one bolt for the hold down but somebody ran the transmission cable through the harness so I had to depin the plug to get it out lol.
I think I’m going to disassemble the whole thing so I can put some heat on it. That aluminum should expand quick. It needs to be cleaned anyway.
I just finished replacing the valve seals. I wanted to put the valve covers back on before I mess with this dizzy. If it wasn’t for these stupid broken screws I would have the car back on the road.
She gone.
I got the tiny screw drilled out. Instead of drilling it bigger and tapping it I tried to use an easy out. It broke off in the hole. Trying to tap the broken piece out i destroyed the reluctor in the distributor.
I removed the electronics but I didn’t completely disassemble it. Those things are fragile! 😤
I guess I’ll order the reman.
I was so close!
She gone.
I got the tiny screw drilled out. Instead of drilling it bigger and tapping it I tried to use an easy out. It broke off in the hole. Trying to tap the broken piece out i destroyed the reluctor in the distributor.
I removed the electronics but I didn’t completely disassemble it. Those things are fragile! 😤
I guess I’ll order the reman.
I was so close!
I see you decided not to take my advise in post #5.
Broken distributor cap screws
