I have removed the clamp completely rotated the rotor counterclockwise while pulling up and it comes up about an inch or two and stops. Gently wiggled but it will not come out. Is there some secret I'm missing?

 

Pull harder would be my suggestion.

 

Keep pulling / whacking at it.

There's nothing else holding it in except for a film of dried gunk.

- Eric

 

I always like the saying... Yank it like a monkey in a mango tree.....

 

I use a small hammer and some wood to tap on the underside of the housing.

 

If the tapping won't work, put a small piece of wood under the housing and lever it with a pry bar. I had one on a 73 455 that I swear was cast in place. I had to lever it to get it loose. When it popped, it literally jumped up about 3 or 4" and then was an easy lift out. Sometimes these parts that never get touched just need to be treated like your wife, not your girlfriend....

 

I have seen some where the hexagonal oil pump drive is galled in the recess of the gear. If so, you might end up with the retaining rings getting stripped off the hex drive shaft and the shaft coming out with the distributor.

 

I use a standard crow bar and a lot of WD-40, usually pops out easy that way. The factory o-ring gets hard as a rock which makes it so hard to get out, I don't know why you are pulling it but you will need a new o-ring before you put it back in. I had to order o-rings here in Boise as no one stocked them.

 

x2 on what everyone else said.

The oil pump driveshaft is a hex shape- and fits in a recess in the bottom of the distrib- After years in place they are likely stuck together thats why it comes up a couple inches then is stuck- its the retainer clip of the driveshaft keeping it in place.

When you do get it out- put a dab of anti-seize in opening on the bottom of the distrib to help avoid the problem next time you need to pull it.

 

Ok the woodblock small hammer tapping worked great. Only took a couple taps. I guess I just couldn't get enough leverage standing on my head and pulling. Thank you guys for the advice. Now I'm going to pay y'all back by letting you take your shots at me. I learned never leave a hole unplugged. The edelbrock intake bolt kit actually had two different size heads. The short bolts are bigger. While trying to switch sockets one flipped off flew a foot in the are and dropped into the distributor hole nothing but net. I could not hit that if I tried. Went fishing with a magnet and got it out

 

That's my luck glad you got it out funny story

 

Swish... Good O'l Murphy!
glad it all worked out.

 

Yeah, it's another what are the chances moment. Glad your were able to fish it out, now stuff a rag in it.

 

Just thought of something. Removing a distributor is a lot like sculpting something. Just take away everything from around it that doesn't look like the distributor....

 

Also if you take the cap off wiggle the shaft back and forth as you pull up to free it.