The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop how to remove distribor

How do you remove the distribor on a 250 6 cyl. engine.

mborth,

Before I help on this, I want you to promise to print me some crisp $20's...

I guess it's obvious to you that the holdown clamp has to come off, along with any wires etc.

Although I have never had this happen, these things sometimes are VERY sticky in the bore, and do not like to come out. I think after you remove the holdown, cap with wires etc, a series of wiggle/rotations with some penetrant might do the trick.

The only thing that holds the distributor in is the holdown, which you can see...and the crud inside, which you can't see. If this doesn't help, don't send the $20's.


Stuart

mborth

if you have any plans whatsoever in putting the same distributer back in i suggest after u take out the holdown clamp u get a knife and scratch a fine line into the shoulder of the distribor shaft and down onto the block itself. that way when u go to put it back in, u just have to line up the line on the shoulder with the line on the block, and youll be ready to go. otherwise youll have a heck of a time getting your firing order and timing back to good. its well worth it. i just got done putting my distrib. in my 250, the hard way.

One more thing to add. If the distributor drives the oil pump like it typically does on V8's (forgive my ignorance on inline 6's, I've never taken one apart), then when you pull it, take note of the slot in the bottom of the distributor shaft to see how it's pointing, or look down in the hole and see how it's pointing on the oil pump drive. If you don't have it pointing the same way when you go back in, it won't want to line up that alignment mark.

So if the inline sixes don't drive their oil pumps that way, then set me straight. But that's what you need to watch out for on V8's anyway.

i all ready took off the hold down. i sprayed it with penatrating oil. the problem is that it comes up about a sixteenth of an inch and wont come up any more. and it wont twist or any thing. all i want to do is change the gaskets.

mborth,

I think you are encountering the "stuck" that was mentioned. There is nothing else down there holding it....threaten it will bodily harm and it will come out.

Stuart

use an oil filter wrench to work it back and forth.

Thaks to all ya'lls help. now have new problem. i cracked the housing on dizzy getting it out. i need to know if the dizzy housing on a 292 is the same or if i have to go junkin to try to find a new one. i have an old truck that i used for parts.

mborth,

I have news straight from the fellow that walks on water, Leo Santucci...he says all the distributors are the same and not to go "junkin", although that does sound fun.

When I said to threaten the distributor with great bodily harm, I didn't mean use the BFH on it!

Stuart

Does Leo Santucci frequent this forum? If so, what's his "handle"?

Hot Rod Dad,

I don't think he does...I have his speed book in the bathroom and read it when contemplating life and higher powers, but I think that is as close as he gets to the Stovebolt.

Your interest in rodding these sixes is admirable. I would imagine very soon we will see a post from you on how you put a 8-71 blower on your 235, or maybe 2 rayjays running 18 lbs of boost.

At breakfast this morning my son asked about Mr. Santucci and why he spent so much time and money on the Chevy 6 engines. I told him when Mr. Santucci showed up at the strip, there was no one else in his class and he always got the trophy.

Stuart