Pulling off the timing cover on my stock 67 430 to get at a broken bolt, and I can't remove (or turn) the distributor. Hold down clamp is removed, but it still feels like something is holding it down. It's gotta be something simple, but had to stop before I forced it and broke something. Car ran great before I replaced the water pump, leading to the aforementioned broken bolt. Any advice would be appreciated as the last one I removed (25 years ago) came out with no issue. Thanks :beer
I've had similar issues. What I did was soak it with a good penetrating oil where the dist housing goes into the timing cover. They tend to corrode there. I then carefully used a rubber mallet to tap it up and out. Had to soak it several times as I could get it to move a little at a time. Patience is key.
Thanks Fred; I had thought of that, but wasn't sure I should be spraying a penetrant on there, thanks for the reassurance! One other thought I had was that the engine would have turned a little when I removed the harmonic balancer... could that have bound the distributor gear/shaft?
Not usually. Question is can you turn the distributor at all. You would normally turn it if you needed to change the timing. As the distributor comes out it should turn to relieve the dist gear to the cam gear pressure. Back in the day I used to loosen the dist, then take a screw driver and a hammer and tap the vacum advance bracket to change the timing. . That
Right now the distributor doesn't even turn. The last time I had to time it I remember having to hit the vacuum advance with my hand to move it. I'll hit it with some PB blaster tonight and see if I can get it moving a bit tomorrow. Thanks
That is a common problem. I had a distributor so stuck on a 71 350 it wouldn't come out until I wrapped a strong strap around it and pulled it with an engine crane. Heat is the answer. Carefully heat the aluminum timing cover, slowly, and keep tapping it with a rubber hammer. Aluminum is so tricky...be careful if you try this method or you can melt it.
In cases like your having, aluminum-aluminum corrosion, on some REALLY stubborn units I have driven the car to get things as HOT as possible. Then got a 14oz. can of freon, tapped it & opened to screw to aim the out coming freon at the base of the dist. Instantly cools it & contracts & will usually come RIGHT out, especially if it's been soaking with penetrate for awhile. Has NEVER failed me. I know the cost of freon is not inexpensive, but how much more will a dist. or timing case cover cost???? Jusy my thoughts on the matter.
Thanks guys. I was able to coax the distributor to move a little after soaking it overnight with some taps of the rubber mallet. I'm soaking it some more with PB blaster and I'll try again in a couple of hours. I'll try the heat if this doesn't work. I'll keep you posted
Still only moving side to side with assistance of mallet. Can I safely use a brass drift under the housing to try and push it out, or will that do some harm?
I'd say keep spraying and turning. I just thought of this, so no idea if it would work well or not. You could take the oil pump cover off and drop the gears out, then try tapping the distributor up with a hammer and a wooden dowel.
Do you have an engine crane? Tie a strap around and pull it out. That 67 is front distributer, right?
No engine crane unfortunately, but yes, same configuration as a 455. I'm going to look for a can of something to cool it as suggested. I've got to get this car ready for Portland so I'm pretty close to towing it over to a old master mechanics shop so he can deal with it. With my luck and inexperience, I'm more likely to do more harm than good
I finally gave up on it as the distributor wouldn't budge other than moving a little back and forth with the help of a rubber mallet. I had it towed down to the shop and the old mechanic down there got it all fixed up, including a new timing chain and gear (the gear on the car was cracked in several places). Cost me a little bit of money, but hey, at least I'm driving the convertible again. He wouldn't tell me how he got the distributor out (smiled and said trade secret!), but it sounds the bolt was a pain to deal with. I guess I'll give the distributor a couple of turns a year to keep it sticking again! thanks for all the advice guys! :beers2:
