it's stuck
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,908
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From: Algona, Washington
I've heard rumors of the dizzy housing essentially "welding" itself to the block. I don't know how to remedy this or if it even happens but my brother had a 79 f250 with a 351 and he claimed his was like that preventing him from timing it.
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2010
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From: Florida
I have seen it happen before on other engines. Keep spraying it with "Blaster" or the new WD40. Do that for a number of days. There is a socket with "jaws" in it made for jobs like this. You tap it on the stub sticking out. Tap LIGHTLY! There also is a "mechanical" socket that will go over the broken piece that tightens the more you pull on it.
First I would keep trying the spray before you go and buy tools you probably won't use again! Channel locks or maybe a good pair of vise grips. Worse case......I saw a guy that had to chisel out a broken dist shaft out of a Pontiac 400 engine!! Wasn't pretty, but he got it!!
First I would keep trying the spray before you go and buy tools you probably won't use again! Channel locks or maybe a good pair of vise grips. Worse case......I saw a guy that had to chisel out a broken dist shaft out of a Pontiac 400 engine!! Wasn't pretty, but he got it!!
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Joe Kucinski
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2003
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I don't get it... what exactly is stuck? You said the distributor SHAFT.
I could see the housing getting stuck, but the shaft is stuck WITHOUT the housing?
The distributor shaft has the helical gear on it that engages the like on the camshaft, and the bottom end of the distributor shaft engages the oil pump hex drive shaft... what is there to get stuck? I'm confused.
I could see the housing getting stuck, but the shaft is stuck WITHOUT the housing?
The distributor shaft has the helical gear on it that engages the like on the camshaft, and the bottom end of the distributor shaft engages the oil pump hex drive shaft... what is there to get stuck? I'm confused.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,908
Likes: 1
From: Algona, Washington
I don't get it... what exactly is stuck? You said the distributor SHAFT.
I could see the housing getting stuck, but the shaft is stuck WITHOUT the housing?
The distributor shaft has the helical gear on it that engages the like on the camshaft, and the bottom end of the distributor shaft engages the oil pump hex drive shaft... what is there to get stuck? I'm confused.
I could see the housing getting stuck, but the shaft is stuck WITHOUT the housing?
The distributor shaft has the helical gear on it that engages the like on the camshaft, and the bottom end of the distributor shaft engages the oil pump hex drive shaft... what is there to get stuck? I'm confused.
I couldn't understand either. The only thing I could think of is what I did when I was trying to kind of "rebuild" my dizzy vs spending money on a whole new one.
My awesome hulk like strength broke it
All in all, I still had to get a new dizzy and it didn't fix the issue I had... The issue I had was some shoddy wire cuts that the PO had wrapped in tape. They had become disconnected coming from the coil. After replacing the dizzy and a few other things, a neighbor who is a partial car guru came over and asked if I had checked under the tape... I said no of course and he said" Well that's probably your issue.." He cut out the problem areas, butt connected it back together and put the wires on correctly and it fired right up. Anyways, those was the only thing I could think of unless maybe the helical gear on the bottom has fused to the oil pump or something? Not very likely but until we get more info I can only assume
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 7,877
Likes: 49
From: Tennessee
Seen that a lot 
. PB , WD , your favorite spray oil . Soak for a few days , apply a bit of heat with a propane torch and let cool completly . Repeat the heat , cool , soak . It should come out then .
. When I pulled mine the first time it was a bear . I then lightly sanded it and cleaned it well . I try to turn it at least once a year now .
. PB , WD , your favorite spray oil . Soak for a few days , apply a bit of heat with a propane torch and let cool completly . Repeat the heat , cool , soak . It should come out then . . When I pulled mine the first time it was a bear . I then lightly sanded it and cleaned it well . I try to turn it at least once a year now .
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,908
Likes: 1
From: Algona, Washington
Ah, so it isn't the shaft. Well, I suggest getting some large vise grips and clamping them onto the base, then taking a mallet and giving it a few love taps. With some additional lubing from the good ol WD-40 or maybe some heat from a torch. Then whack the crap out of it. You'll get it out one way or another. If you don't have a large pair of vice grips then you could drill a hole through the top side of the housing and slide a screw driver in there and crank on it. I'm 98% sure the housing isn't going to be usable afterwards so do what you can. 
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