Can’t get to the distributor hold down bolt to loosen it
#1
03-20-2019, 11:21 PM
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Austin area in Texas
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Can’t get to the distributor hold down bolt to loosen it
I feel dumb asking this, but I simply can not get any tool down under the distributor to loosen the hold down bolt. I have a 78 F 150 351W with factory air and the compressor seems to block access to the hold down bolt and clamp. Also a big casting boss on the bottom of the distributor above the bolt. Really frustrating me. I just found the truck and trying to work through rough running issues step by step. Saw that Someone wired the cap wrong, #8 on the #1 terminal, proper firing order, just a whole pin off all the way around the cap.Now Putting on new ignition wires on the proper pins so as part of basic correction and tune up I need to crank the distributor back to point the rotor at # 1 close to TDC where I have the engine now. I can see it’s a half inch bolt head, but can just barely touch it with tools. Am I missing something here, seems like it should be simple. I could really use some help? Should I dismount the A/C compressor?? Driving me nuts.
#5
03-21-2019, 12:19 PM
#6
03-21-2019, 10:44 PM
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Austin area in Texas
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks you guys. I have a curved , sort of half moon shaped one for Chevrolet rear distributors and it’s 9/16 not half and won’t fit any way. I actually ordered one of each of these today from Amazon and EBay to see if one or both will work!! I can’t believe everyone on this forum has these to work on their distributors. Can’t believe it takes a special tool. Should be here soon and I can line up TDC with the number one on the rotor and cap .
#7
03-21-2019, 11:03 PM
Trending Topics
#9
03-22-2019, 08:08 PM
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Austin area in Texas
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks guys, the distributor wrench actually worked and got me from one jam into another now. Pretty sure it wasn’t made of American steel as it twisted but did pop the bolt loose. Couldn’t believe it. Now can plainly see that I can’t retard the distributor far enough to get the rotor anywhere near number one at TDC , so I’m gonna check the forum to see what that’s all about. A mis installed distributor probably .Actually well into the next contact, what should be #7 at full retard. I guess somebody way worse than me worked on it.
Thanks Again.
Thanks Again.
#10
04-03-2019, 07:27 PM
Lead Driver
Well, I've used mine maybe only once in last 20 years. Not an often used tool these days, but when needed, it's needed.
#11
04-07-2019, 03:11 AM
Senior User
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: buffalo wyoming
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The distributor is just a tooth or two off between the distributor gear and the cam. instead of correcting distributor, the previous owner just moved wires one terminal over on the cap. the fix is simple, just pull up distributor and rotate the rotor slightly when droppiing the distributor back in place. it only takes a few degrees of rotation, then a slight wiggle as the distributor seats to get the gears to mesh.
its npt uncommon to have it be a tooth off when you initially time it, if the gears hit teet when installing the duistributor, a slight rotation either clockwise or counter clockwise will get gears to mesh, one way is correct, the other way a tooth off. And normally, its only evident which one is correct when you actually try to rotate distributor to time it.
its npt uncommon to have it be a tooth off when you initially time it, if the gears hit teet when installing the duistributor, a slight rotation either clockwise or counter clockwise will get gears to mesh, one way is correct, the other way a tooth off. And normally, its only evident which one is correct when you actually try to rotate distributor to time it.
#12
04-13-2019, 03:26 PM
The distributor is just a tooth or two off between the distributor gear and the cam. instead of correcting distributor, the previous owner just moved wires one terminal over on the cap. the fix is simple, just pull up distributor and rotate the rotor slightly when droppiing the distributor back in place. it only takes a few degrees of rotation, then a slight wiggle as the distributor seats to get the gears to mesh.
its npt uncommon to have it be a tooth off when you initially time it, if the gears hit teet when installing the duistributor, a slight rotation either clockwise or counter clockwise will get gears to mesh, one way is correct, the other way a tooth off. And normally, its only evident which one is correct when you actually try to rotate distributor to time it.
its npt uncommon to have it be a tooth off when you initially time it, if the gears hit teet when installing the duistributor, a slight rotation either clockwise or counter clockwise will get gears to mesh, one way is correct, the other way a tooth off. And normally, its only evident which one is correct when you actually try to rotate distributor to time it.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
bcsbadboys
Ford Inline Six, 200, 250, 4.9L / 300
5
11-20-2006 01:57 PM
faroffthetrack
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
5
04-23-2004 11:21 PM
