Distributor Seized in Place
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 170
Likes: 12
Distributor Seized in Place
So I went to check my ignition timing on my truck today. 1989 F-250 with 460 and ZF 5 speed manual. Engine was warmed up and spout connector removed, Timing was reading about 9 degrees. Seems a little low to me. Not sure what the stock setting for the '89 is, but the stock setting on my '73 460 is 12 degrees, and I currently have it set to 14 without any problems. I'd like to up the timing on the truck to get a little more power and economy, especially since I have ignition upgrades: MSD cap, rotor, coil, and wires installed.
Problem is, the distributor is totally seized in place! I completely removed the hold down bolt and clamp and it still won't budge OR come up and out of the engine. I tried liberal amounts of PB blaster, wapping it pretty hard with a sledgehammer, prying it upwards, etc. and it still won't budge! I have it soaking overnight with more PB blaster, but I'm not too confident it will come out. Any suggestions?
Problem is, the distributor is totally seized in place! I completely removed the hold down bolt and clamp and it still won't budge OR come up and out of the engine. I tried liberal amounts of PB blaster, wapping it pretty hard with a sledgehammer, prying it upwards, etc. and it still won't budge! I have it soaking overnight with more PB blaster, but I'm not too confident it will come out. Any suggestions?
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 77
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From: Gilbert, AZ
My 87 F250 460 has the same issue.
It's not running right now due to multiple fuel pump failures. But, when I had it running I was tinkering with the carb and decided to check the timing. It was set correctly but I wanted to bump it up a degree or 2. I had to bend and weld a couple of wrenches together just to get some leverage on the hold down bolt. The hold down bolt was actually finger tight. I tried with all I had to turn the distributor by hand, but it wouldnt budge. I soaked it for a week with WD40, PB Blaster ect. I then put a strap wrench on it and still nothing.
Here is the strap wrench I used:
I hope somebody here has some advise on how to help
It's not running right now due to multiple fuel pump failures. But, when I had it running I was tinkering with the carb and decided to check the timing. It was set correctly but I wanted to bump it up a degree or 2. I had to bend and weld a couple of wrenches together just to get some leverage on the hold down bolt. The hold down bolt was actually finger tight. I tried with all I had to turn the distributor by hand, but it wouldnt budge. I soaked it for a week with WD40, PB Blaster ect. I then put a strap wrench on it and still nothing.
Here is the strap wrench I used:
I hope somebody here has some advise on how to help
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 359
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Plan on almost destroying the distributor . I had to wedge mine out . I stacked cold chisels on the intake and in between the distributor and slammed in another chisel . The dizzy popped out but took some work . The new dizzy I applied a ton of antiseize to it ... Applying heat also helps too .
New User
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 24
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I had the exact same problem with my '88 F-250 460. I had an MSD distributor that just wouldn't move no matter what I did. I had finally almost given up when I decided to try one more thing. I removed the hold down bolt and let the truck sit about three days and continued to spray Liquid Wrench on it; morning, noon, and night. On the fourth day, I went out with a pair of channel locks and prepared to give it hell when I gave it the slightest of turns and it broke free. I was able to turn it by hand from there. I hear PB Blaster is even better, you may try that, it may help and may prevent you from destroying your distributor.
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Greenville, NC
The distributor on my 88 F-250 with a 351W has similarly frozen in place, the distributor had a hex section for you put use a large (it's like 32mm or so) wrench on it. Once I did this I was able to free mine up enough to where it would finally pull out. Once I had it out I cleaned the corrosion between the aluminum distributor and the iron block, now I can easily spin mine by hand once the hold down bolt is loose.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 170
Likes: 12
Well my distributor is still stuck. I've been applying a pretty heavy dose of PB blaster 3-4 times a day for the last four days. I've tried a rubber strap wrench, and also a pretty big crescent wrench, but can't get a decent grip on it with either. I don't have a box end wrench even close to that big. I've tried banging on it pretty hard with a sledgehammer and pickle fork. That thing is just not coming out! I don't have a torch to heat it up, but I drove the truck and got it up to operating temperature to get it nice and hot, but still no luck. 
Any other suggestions?
Any other suggestions?
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 816
Likes: 2
From: Sandy Hook, CT
Use Kano-Kroil on it instead of PB. Its on Amazon.com. PB isn't up to task on this kind of job. You've got dissimilar metal corrosion/bonding going on and it is very difficult to break. KK has NEVER failed me.
Roger
Roger
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,936
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From: Acworth, GA
I want to second and third that. Kroil is some awesome stuff. And they have a special offer going on right now too; Google Deal
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 464
Likes: 5
From: Redmond, WA USA
I had the exact same problem. Do as stated above. I tried a slide hammer too, but was really afraid that I was going to break the casting so I gave up on that idea.
I used a large adjustable wrench on the hex portion of the casting, along with a 2lb. hammer, rapping on the wrench handle back and forth. It took a week of doing this, after repeated applications of the Kroil, and one day it finally came loose.
My truck was in running condition throughout the process, and I really didn't want to break the distributor housing.
I used a large adjustable wrench on the hex portion of the casting, along with a 2lb. hammer, rapping on the wrench handle back and forth. It took a week of doing this, after repeated applications of the Kroil, and one day it finally came loose.
My truck was in running condition throughout the process, and I really didn't want to break the distributor housing.