95 4.3L CPI distributor clamp bolt...!?!? $%$#!

[vballfun]

Has any one taken off thier lower intake on this engine? and how did you get the bolt that holds the clamp to the distributer off!! I swear this thing is tightened to 1,000,000 foot-lbs and there is -NO- room for either a socket (as it sits under thedistributer with barely an 1 1/4" clearance) and it is close to firewall so no leverate for a wrench (if you can find one that fits between thef irewall and tranny dipstick!!!!)

just looking for some pointers...

(liquid wrenched the thing about 10 times... no luck yet)

going to bed been a long night.

[Mr. Smith]

Originally Posted by vballfun

Has any one taken off thier lower intake on this engine? and how did you get the bolt that holds the clamp to the distributer off!! I swear this thing is tightened to 1,000,000 foot-lbs and there is -NO- room for either a socket (as it sits under thedistributer with barely an 1 1/4" clearance) and it is close to firewall so no leverate for a wrench (if you can find one that fits between thef irewall and tranny dipstick!!!!)

just looking for some pointers...

(liquid wrenched the thing about 10 times... no luck yet)

going to bed been a long night.

Ever hear of a distributer wrench? They work well.

[rlith]

.... Yes, that's what distributor wrenches are for... They are somewhat L shaped and designed to be used with a regular ratchet. You can pick them up at most autoparts stores.

[vballfun]

Actually... no I hadn't heard of those.. my dad has an old 9/16 wrench that he told me he cut in about half for just that purpose.. but that 'L' shaped wrench sounds a lot better.. going to go check out the advance near here.

Thanks,
vballfun

[vballfun]

Thanks. I found that tool this morning and had the distributor out in less than 2 minutes... grrr spent almost 2 hours last night cussing trying to get that thing.. didn't realize there was a specific tool.

-vballfun

[rlith]

Originally Posted by vballfun

Thanks. I found that tool this morning and had the distributor out in less than 2 minutes... grrr spent almost 2 hours last night cussing trying to get that thing.. didn't realize there was a specific tool.

-vballfun

Hoped you marked the dist. And remember, it's easy to be 1 tooth off in either direction and the truck not start or run horribly.

[vballfun]

Yup.. marked it twice per chilton's advice.. once with a '1' where it initially was.. and then again with a '2' where it turns 40 deg. so I have an 'idea' of where to put the teeth so that it rotates back to the '1' mark.

The lower intake gasket didn't look all that bd.. and I couldn't see any obvious signs of leakage.. :-/ so I'm probably going to continue down to the heads.. but I'll takle it more tomorrow or next day.. have very limited spare time :-( so doing it piece by piece.. just sucks that way cause very easy to forget where things went.. so I'm marking -everything-

having a heck of a time getting the old gasket off.... and under the lower intake was -filthy- with 'old oil' on the passengers side.. couldn't believe how gunked up it was.

vballfun

[Markgc]

Take some digital pictures if you can - it is an excellent way of seeing how some things should go back together.