Disturbing the distributor

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Old Jun 15, 2012 | 07:18 PM
  #1  
805cut's Avatar
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Disturbing the distributor

How do i remove the distributor it was unscrewing but seems to just be spinning now..

Thanks
Old Jun 15, 2012 | 08:01 PM
  #2  
m371961's Avatar
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From: Sistersville, WV
First question. Did you mark it as to the rotor position before you moved it?
Second question. Have you turned the engine over at all ?
It pulls straight up after removing the hold down clamp.
If you marked it, do not turn engine after you remove it.
If you did not mark it, get engine back in time, mark the position of the rotor on the dist housing, and the position of the housing where it mets the engine block. Then pull it up.
If you are reinstalling, do not turn engine with it out, line up marks and push it in.
Old Jun 16, 2012 | 07:04 AM
  #3  
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Lift the base up a little and spray some good penetrant down arond the block area. What you have is varnish and ?? built up in there. Then take small block of wood and a hammer, tap along the underside of the housing of the distributor and it should pop right out. Some will suggest a prybar, but I've seen too much damage caused by that method.
Old Jun 16, 2012 | 07:51 PM
  #4  
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Wussies!

Sawzall the oil pan off!

http://72.22.90.30/phpBB2/viewtopic....remove+dist%2A

for less drastic measures... it is common for the dist'r gear to become one with the OPDR [oil pump drive rod]. In such a case, prying and hammering typically lead to a broken distributor, though I have seem 'em come out by stripping the special washers off the OPDR instead.

I am not aware of any process to separate a stuck OPDR other than the breakage or oil pan removal/ cutting.

Last edited by Octania; Jun 16, 2012 at 07:56 PM.
Old Jun 16, 2012 | 09:24 PM
  #5  
SBORule's Avatar
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From: Orlando, FL
Originally Posted by 805cut
How do i remove the distributor it was unscrewing but seems to just be spinning now..

Thanks
Just lift it straight up, you may have to wiggle it a little bit as you pull up on it.
Old Jun 17, 2012 | 08:10 PM
  #6  
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Originally Posted by SBORule
Just lift it straight up, you may have to wiggle it a little bit as you pull up on it.
Theoretically, yes.

In practice, 1% or so have the OPDR stuck in the gear so that the above method is not possible.

I have tried tapping the top of the dist'r shaft, prying while tapping on the housing, tapping the dist'r shaft rotationally, etc.... but if it's really stuck then you are looking at 1) break it and remove it, or 2) gain access from underneath. The sawed off oil pan was at the boneyard, the engine was a POS turd 350 in a Cadillac, a week from going off to be melted, so, out came the recip saw. 15m later I have the EFI distributor in my possession.

Previous visitor unfortunately had pried and hammered and broken the housing.
Old Jun 18, 2012 | 06:12 AM
  #7  
Nasty455's Avatar
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From: Orwell,Ohio
Try rotating the rotor as you try to remove the dizzy.
I have had an experience where a car sat outside 12 years.
The difference in the metals,between the aluminum dizzy and cast iron block,nearly welded the dizzy to the block.
I had to snap off the dizzy and chisel the dizzy from the block.
Weird things sometimes happen.
Old Jun 18, 2012 | 09:30 AM
  #8  
joe_padavano's Avatar
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Originally Posted by Octania
Theoretically, yes.

In practice, 1% or so have the OPDR stuck in the gear so that the above method is not possible.
1%??? I WISH it were only 1% - my experience is more like 75%. I usually end up walking the retainer washer off the end of the OPDR and having it drop into the oil pan.
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