Quick distributor/cap question

[Element]

Should I be able to grab the cap on the distributor and twist it clockwise and counterclockwise?

 

[JEBSR]

It should wiggle a little, very little. It should not turn though. Is the whole distributer turning with it? If so the distributor is just loose.

 

[Element]

I believe so, although I haven't taken a good look - I just noticed last night when it was getting dark out. I'll check and see what all is moving when I get home.

 

[dremu]

I believe so, although I haven't taken a good look - I just noticed last night when it was getting dark out. I'll check and see what all is moving when I get home.

Ah yes, the famous self-adjusting timing

-- A

 

[Element]

Well, just got in from checking it, and the whole distributor is as loose as an 80 year old hooker. Started the truck and twisted it around a bit, and the timing is definitely way off. Friend volunteered to bring his timing light over one day and help me reset it...only thing I didn't see was where to tighten the distributor up. Is there a lock nut or a pin or something somewhere?

 

[dyeager535]

There is a bolt with a clamp that is tightened down. They actually make a tool for this, but you can get to it if you have the right wrenches and flexibility.

 

[dremu]

Well, just got in from checking it, and the whole distributor is as loose as an 80 year old hooker. Started the truck and twisted it around a bit, and the timing is definitely way off. Friend volunteered to bring his timing light over one day and help me reset it...only thing I didn't see was where to tighten the distributor up. Is there a lock nut or a pin or something somewhere?

Dorian's right; with a 9/16" wrench that's got a 45* head and eight elbows, it's easy.

Otherwise, you're in for some fun. The parts stores sell a cheapo wrench to do it, which may help...

http://napaonline.com/MasterPages/NOLMaster.aspx?PageId=470&LineCode=SER&PartNumber=104&Description=Distributor+Clamp+Wrench

I seem to recall Kragen selling them for ~$10, though dang if I can find them on their web page now.

Snappy and the like make nice ones:

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?store=snapon-store&item_ID=10730&group_ID=1327

Mine is actually a 9/16" twelve point socket, ground off about 3/8" so there's just enough depth to the socket to fit the head of the bolt, welded to a piece of rod bent like the Snappy one above.

It's located UNDER the dizzy, WAY under, on the intake manifold, and you'll hafta dig through the transmission vacuum hoses and such to find it. There's a U-shaped bracket that holds it down, with an elongated hole in the other end. You push the bracket all the way against the distributor shaft housing, then tighten the bolt down 'til you can just turn the dizzy ... set the timing, then tighten the bolt all the way.

Might want to make sure the bracket is flat, as it may have gotten bent over the years of being loose.

HTH.

-- A