Distributor is stuck

djpink1947

djpink1947

Member
Hello: I have a friend with a 1973 Torino and he would like to time the car because he wants to install a Petronix ignition. Trouble is he can get the distributor out or to move at all. He's tried everthing but, no luck. Anyone got any idea's out there as how to loosen up this part and get it to work?? DJP
 
A lot of PB BLASTER, time, tap back a forth, small pipe wrench. The aluminum has oxidized into the cast iron. Their should be an O ring on it. Good luck.
 
there is a rubber "o" ring on the dist shaft. over time it is heated and kind of welds its self to the dist, get a long pry bar or a crow bar and a rubber mallet, find a place under the dist that you can pry up on with out breaking any thing, pry up while tapping on the vacuum advance to get it to move, go easy, you dont want to break any thing :cool:
 
BOSSY said:
A lot of PB BLASTER, time, tap back a forth, small pipe wrench. The aluminum has oxidized into the cast iron. Their should be an O ring on it. Good luck.
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He's right about the penetrant, soak, soak and soak some more. Try working it back and forth. The early YBlock distributors had no O ring, that came later. Most of the replacements have the O ring.
 
I had one stuck on my vette and I also soaked it with PB Blaster for a few days. I had a long open end wrench as the vette dist had a square part on the lower part of the shaft I just kept hitting the wrench with a hammer back and fourth until it moved.
 
paul 2748, i think your wrong about the "O" ring, had a 55 and 56 y block and they both had the dist "O" ring, both new from the dealer
 
It took about 2 weeks & a lot of Kroil to loosen up the dizzy in my 59 292. I still don't have it out, but at least I can adjust the timing.
 
When you get it out, let us know if there is an O Ring on it. I think the reason they got stuck was because there was metal to metal contact. An O Ring would prevent this. But then again, I could be wrong.
 
paul2748 said:
When you get it out, let us know if there is an O Ring on it. I think the reason they got stuck was because there was metal to metal contact. An O Ring would prevent this. But then again, I could be wrong.
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I've seen it on later engines that definitely had the o-ring. Back when these engines were in for a tuneup every so many thousands of miles, the dist got turned and/or removed more frequently. With elecronics and no points, some of these newer engines never have the dist turned in their lifetime.
 
I used pb blaster for qabout a week straight while driving it 2-3 times a day took a piece of oak wood about 1 inch by 12 inches and kept taping on it with a dead blow and it finally broke loose, good luck!
 
You might find that making a 50/50 mix of ATF and Acetone will work a LOT better than PB blaster or any other similar product. The key is patience and a BIG hammer. (just kidding about the hammer)

Good luck,
Joe
 
JoeGermann said:
You might find that making a 50/50 mix of ATF and Acetone will work a LOT better than PB blaster or any other similar product. The key is patience and a BIG hammer. (just kidding about the hammer)

Good luck,
Joe
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Ya, that stuff works better than anything else I've ever tried. Cheaper too. ;)
 
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