distributor frozen in block
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Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Denver USA
distributor frozen in block
1978 F-150 400M, C-6, dead stock and no more that a starter, radiator, choke pull off and that type work before now. 89,000 miles.
My 1978 truck shop manual says my '78 400M distributor will pull out if I remove the hold down bolt and tab, and the distributor will lift up out of the engine block. I took off the bolt and hold down tab, but can't budge the distributor.
The distributor housing won't turn in the hole either.
I now have everything torn down in the motor, but I can't extract the cam with the distributor gear still in mesh with the cam gear. I can rotate the shaft and shift the cam forward and back 1/2", so the gear is not bound.
To try to free the distributor from the block I have tried liquid wrench soaking from both sides, tapping the underside of the distributor with wood and metal punches, heating the block with a propane torch and repeating all the above, tapping the side of the distributor to attempt to turn it and trying to wedge under the lip of the distributor with a wood chisel.
Anybody have any ideas??
My 1978 truck shop manual says my '78 400M distributor will pull out if I remove the hold down bolt and tab, and the distributor will lift up out of the engine block. I took off the bolt and hold down tab, but can't budge the distributor.
The distributor housing won't turn in the hole either.
I now have everything torn down in the motor, but I can't extract the cam with the distributor gear still in mesh with the cam gear. I can rotate the shaft and shift the cam forward and back 1/2", so the gear is not bound.
To try to free the distributor from the block I have tried liquid wrench soaking from both sides, tapping the underside of the distributor with wood and metal punches, heating the block with a propane torch and repeating all the above, tapping the side of the distributor to attempt to turn it and trying to wedge under the lip of the distributor with a wood chisel.
Anybody have any ideas??
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
distributor frozen in block
Sounds like it is time to break out the pipe wrench...
You can try the heat and candle trick discussed in the Garage forum but it sounds like your distributor is corroded into place.
You can try the heat and candle trick discussed in the Garage forum but it sounds like your distributor is corroded into place.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2001
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From: space city
distributor frozen in block
you MIGHT be able to knock out the roll pin that holds the gear on, then remove the gear, and maybe pull the shaft out from the top and get the cam out - but you'd still have to hack off the top of the distributor and saw/chisel/grind the rest of it out... 
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 843
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From: USA
distributor frozen in block
Suffice to say you will need a new distributor when this is finished. If you have or know somebody that has a long handle tie rod tool you can use it like a crow bar on top of a piece of wood and maybe pop the unit up that way.
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From: Denver USA
distributor frozen in block
I finally got it out. I moved it a little with an oil pump strap wrench, tapped on the side lug again with a hammer - in both directions and began to see a little shifting. OK, I broke off the sides of the distributor casting on both sides of the wire cut out, but I can glue them back on with JB Weld. But it moved.
I then turned it upside down again and was able to drive it out with a 7/16 solid aluminum rod I had. Did dent up the bottom of the casting lip, but it shifted the distributor 1/2" up and then I could work it out. When I put this back together, I am going to coat it with grease so the water inlet doesn't seap and drip right down to puddle around the distributor. I'll also get a bunch of the copper stuff for it. After I hone out the corrosion, I may need a sleeve to make it stay in the block. Did I tell you I love to work on my truck?
I then turned it upside down again and was able to drive it out with a 7/16 solid aluminum rod I had. Did dent up the bottom of the casting lip, but it shifted the distributor 1/2" up and then I could work it out. When I put this back together, I am going to coat it with grease so the water inlet doesn't seap and drip right down to puddle around the distributor. I'll also get a bunch of the copper stuff for it. After I hone out the corrosion, I may need a sleeve to make it stay in the block. Did I tell you I love to work on my truck?
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distributor frozen in block
YEAH 78 BILL I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM A FEW WEEKS AGO WITH THE DISTRIBUTOR FROZEN WE HAD TO HEAT UP THE BLOCK A LITTLE WITH A TORCH AND IT CAME OUT AFTER A FEW MINUTES
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