Distributor Removal Help

Junior Expert Post: 118 Location: McKinney, TX

Hi -

I recently bought one of the Bosch SVDA 034 distributors to replace the 009 I have currently.

I am stuck at simpleton step 3.

Step 1 - Set the crank at TDC
Step 2 - Removed the nut on the distributor bracket and loosened the clamp on the distributor shaft
Step 3 - (here's where progress stops) I cannot pull the distributor out of the block

You can twist the distributor back and forth like it should if you were setting the timong, but it WILL NOT pull out of the block.

I have read the Haynes and the Muir book on Distributor removal and surfed around on the web, but nobody mentions there being any more that medium resistance to pulling the shaft out (Haynes mentions tapping with a hammer to budge it out if required).

I have heaved and tugged, tried to force it with a screwdriver and tapping a chisel in to force it upwards. Even tried a crowbar with gentle - and hard - persuasion, and outside of messing up the bottom of the distributor, no joy.

What is the secret here I am missing? Advice appreciated please!

Administrator Post: 1329 Location: Lone Oak, Texas

Hummm....
I've never had one that hard to get out. So far mine have come out with a screw driver under the bracket.

I suppose you have tried working the shaft back and forth while prying it up...

Or index the motor a little and try it?

Might even try removing the fuel pump and push rod...

Junior Expert Post: 118 Location: McKinney, TX

Tried moving he flywheel back and forth a bit - I'll try more movement

It doesn't have a fuel pump/push rod located on the block, its a 78 AJ engine (had FI - now has carb) with the fuel pump up under the tank).

Thanks.

Administrator Post: 1329 Location: Lone Oak, Texas

Are you going to come to cici's friday? I'm thinking this would be easier to figure out in person... Or maybe we could wonder over to your place and ponder over it... scratch

Junior Expert Post: 118 Location: McKinney, TX

Thanks for the offer :-( Sorry I missed the meeting this time.

My wife had a difficult week and I decided to spend some quality time with her instead...

Still have the same issue, tried spinning the engine a bit and it didn't change things.

Junior Expert Post: 129 Location: McKinney

Greetings,

Simple tasks become challenges on 30 year old cars. There is
nothing holding it in place once the hold down bracket is unbolted.
Sometimes the o-ring seal on the housing can become hard and wedge/hold the distributor in place. The other thing I have heard is the end of the distributor drive gets stuck in the drive gear. That happens more often on motors that sit for a long time (years).

Have you sprayed any liquid wrench or other penetrating
fluid around the housing? If not I would give it a spray each day for a few
days & then try to pull it up.

Two wooden boards that fit under each side of the distributor
can help rock it side to side (go easy on the engine case).

I hope this helps, if not shoot me a note & I would be
happy to come over & see if I can help.

Be Well.

Junior Expert Post: 118 Location: McKinney, TX

Hi -

Still working on it - no joy. I thought leaving it alone a week or so might improve things, but no!

Tried spinning the engine around a few times and tugging out the distributor at different points around, still no luck in pulling it out.

The whole unit moves around freely, just not OUT. it may have moved up minutely, the rotor will spin around freely now, so the drive must be disengaged from the connection below or the rotor wouldn't move.

Have tried prying with a large screwdriver and 'persuading' with a rubber mallet, even with a crow bar leveraging on a block of wood. The wood starts to split under the crow bar but the distributor doesn't move up any noticable amount.

Took a few gouges out of the bottom/body of the distributor, but no luck moving it up and out of the hole any further.

Now I am afraid to do much more forceful treatment in case I have to leave this one in and use it if it can't be removed.

Grrr.....

John

Junior Expert Post: 118 Location: McKinney, TX

SUCCESS!

Different board - more pry-bar action, pow!

Looks like the gasket was the culprit - this one has been in there at least 15 years since the last rebuild.

Administrator Post: 1329 Location: Lone Oak, Texas

SWEET!!!

Junior Expert Post: 129 Location: McKinney

Way to stay with it.

Amazing the strength
of a harden rubber o-ring.

Junior Expert Post: 118 Location: McKinney, TX

Here's the odd thing (OK - the odd thing for the day).

My coil was wired backwards and still ran fine. The wire groupings attached to the #1 and #15 terminals were all reversed.

I was not a EE major in school - but that seems like it must not have been working as optimal as it would have had everything been hooked up right. Car runs now with the new distributor static timed, I just need to set the timing properly when I have another free evening.

For some reason I continue to be surprised at the odd wiring issues in this car - I should just accept them!

Junior Expert Post: 118 Location: McKinney, TX

Tuned and running like a top!

Its amazing what a new distributor and electronic points will do...

I don't know if its the new SVDA 034 vs the old 009 or the electronic ignition vs points, but the running is much improved.

Now back to working on rust and wear....