• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

Distributor disassembly problems

  • Thread starter Thread starter davmacdon
  • Start date Start date Jul 2, 2004

davmacdon

New Member
Aug 23, 2003
61
0
0
Jul 2, 2004
#1
  • Jul 2, 2004
  • #1
I am trying to replace the stator in my 94 5.0 distributor. I have removed the vane but can not figure out how to remove the post that the vane bolts to so i can replace the pickup. Is it pressed on and I need to use a puller?

Please help!!!
 
B

bsedwebt70-5.0

New Member
Jul 1, 2004
320
0
0
Charlottesville, VA
Jul 2, 2004
#2
  • Jul 2, 2004
  • #2
I had a problem with my 93 distributer and could never get it apart either so I just went to the auto parts store and bought a new distributer as it came with everything already in place for about 75.00 (about the same price as the part and with no headaches - your sanity is worth something) and all I had to do was install a new external contol module, cap, rotor, etc... if you do it make sure you match the drive gear with cast iron if yours is cast iron or steel if it is steel etc... so it will not mess up the gears (they both will fit but I'm told mismatch will wear out the teeth in short order) after I did this I set the timing to 14 degrees advance with the dangle plug out and cleaned up the prongs and the car never gave another moments trouble and got better gas mileage and more power.
 

MadMatt5oh

Member
Jan 10, 2003
441
0
16
St Paul, MN
Jul 2, 2004
#3
  • Jul 2, 2004
  • #3
Im not sure if the 94 dist is the same as foxes. I just rebuilt mine. It was effortless.

1st take the lower cap and rotor off , then the TFI - you will need a 5.5 long socket or a "ford TFI module key"

2nd Tap out the dowel pins with the correct sized center punch ( is a tad smaller diameter than the pin)

3rd put the end shaft on a block of wood and tap the top of the dist with a rubber mallet - be pateint it will come.

4 slide the gear and keeper off and remember how they go on. Replace the pickup coil/stator

5 clean the shaft and inside of the dist and lubricate it with vaseline or KY lol

6 slide the keeper on and line up the hole

7 line up the holes for the gear- you must have this dead on from the start or youre screwed and have to start over

8 take a large socket and tap that gear back on making sure it makes its course straight onto the holes

9 Once the holes are lined up for the gear tap those dowel pins back in

10 finish the job and have a beer

11 send me 5$ USD
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
34
129
Jul 3, 2004
#4
  • Jul 3, 2004
  • #4
Matt, did you renew anything else while doing the job? i.e. the dowel pins or anything else?
nice write up!
 

MadMatt5oh

Member
Jan 10, 2003
441
0
16
St Paul, MN
Jul 3, 2004
#5
  • Jul 3, 2004
  • #5
I would have but couldnt find any. I choose to lightly place a dimple on them with a tiny center punch. It'll be a real bitch getting them out next time - yeah right- next time LOL!
 

MadMatt5oh

Member
Jan 10, 2003
441
0
16
St Paul, MN
Jul 3, 2004
#6
  • Jul 3, 2004
  • #6
Other than complete replacement I saw no need to replace anything else. Everything checked out fine by me. Shaft movement in the dist, gear wasnt worn (good oil pressure) the shaft mustve been well lubed as well. Its basically rebuilt. I dont think a new factory dist would be a micron better. An MSD dist is a better unit though. Im just short on funds so for 35$ I did this. I'll get the MSD dist when I get the 6A box
 

davmacdon

New Member
Aug 23, 2003
61
0
0
Jul 3, 2004
#7
  • Jul 3, 2004
  • #7
Somehow the pickup had loosened/shrunk and was moving a little around the shaft(it was bolted down but was had play). It was rubbibg the inside edge of the vane/shutter causing a misfire and strange codes on the computer(spout errors and ground errors). Everything seems tight on the dist. but I am worried about possable metal filings from the vane that might have got down into the dist.
 

MadMatt5oh

Member
Jan 10, 2003
441
0
16
St Paul, MN
Jul 3, 2004
#8
  • Jul 3, 2004
  • #8
Damn, Im not so sure we are looking at the same type of distributor! Either way, it sounds like the pickup is screwed. You use different terms - so it makes it sounds like its a different thing alltogether! I dont understand how the pickup could be loose. The one part goes around the shaft and has a thin metal strip that holds it in position. Then the wires that lead into that go to the magnet which is bolted down with 2 screws. That pickup is also secured by the TFI being in place.

Either buy a new dist or scrap the thing if you arent up to the task
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
34
129
Jul 3, 2004
#9
  • Jul 3, 2004
  • #9
Matt, thanks for the info!
davmacdon has a SN95, and i believe they have different dizzies (hood clearance). i could be wrong....i would scrap that whole dizzy - if you have clearance issues like that, i would not want that spinnin in a motor. no sense in rebuilding anything on it, IMHO - you cant polish a turd.

my two cents worth.
 

davmacdon

New Member
Aug 23, 2003
61
0
0
Jul 3, 2004
#10
  • Jul 3, 2004
  • #10
Car fires up and runs geat. I went with a new dist. because i could not get the (vane/shutter) thing that passes through the pickup to rebuild the old one. It was hard to get the right dist., there was one that had the control module on the dist. and the one I need has the control module on the apron by the strut tower.

thanks for the help.
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
34
129
Jul 3, 2004
#11
  • Jul 3, 2004
  • #11
glad to hear you are back up and running. nice work.
 
B

beemrmem3

Founding Member
Jan 8, 2002
831
0
0
Washington
Aug 15, 2004
#12
  • Aug 15, 2004
  • #12
How much was the distributor? Im getting misfireing and overall running like crap. Im gettin a spout ground code as well(212) Ive replaced the ignition module cap rotor and MAF. Maybe ill just get a new distributor. How much was it. How hard is it to put in?
 

davmacdon

New Member
Aug 23, 2003
61
0
0
Aug 16, 2004
#13
  • Aug 16, 2004
  • #13
The distributor cost about $90 and was a breeze to install. Make sure you mark the distributor position when you take the old one out. I was off 1 tooth when I put it back in and had to go to TDC. But again it was easy. Car runs like new again.

Do you have any shaft play? Check the vane/shutter thing on the top of the distributor, Mine was making contact with the pickup and causing all kinds of problems.
 
B

beemrmem3

Founding Member
Jan 8, 2002
831
0
0
Washington
Aug 16, 2004
#14
  • Aug 16, 2004
  • #14
I guess i dont understand how you install the new one. If you are marking where the old one was. How do you know where to put the new one? It has no mark on it. Can someone give me the run down on switching out distributors.
 

jrichker

StangNet's favorite TOOL
In Remembrance. Thank you for your contributions
Mar 10, 2000
27,512
2,813
234
Dublin GA
Aug 17, 2004
#15
  • Aug 17, 2004
  • #15
Take the coil wire out of the distributor. Pull #1 plug, put your finger in the spark plug hole. Have someone crank the engine until it starts to blow air past your finger. Stop cranking, turn the engine by hand (breaker bar on the harmonic balancer bolt, or put the car in gear and push) until the TDC mark on the harmonic balancer lines up with the pointer on the passenger side of the engine. Loose the distributor hold down bolt, remove the clamp, cap and wires, disconnect the wiring harness. Pull the distributor straight up.

The following re-install depends on the engine being lined up as in the previous instructions.
To re-install, turn the distributor rotor to point to #1 cylinder position on the cap. The#1 position is about 11 o'clock if 6 o' clock is the front of the engine. Line the rotor up with it pointing at the #1 spark plug position on the cap and drop it in: you may have to twist the shaft some to get it to engage the oil pump shaft. Then remove the SPOUT connector plug, and use a timing light to set the timing. The SPOUT is the dangling connector on the distributor harness on stangs made prior to 94 and with a computer controlled engine. 10* is stock for most 5.0s' 12*-14* is good for more pep if you are not into NO2 or power adders.
 
B

beemrmem3

Founding Member
Jan 8, 2002
831
0
0
Washington
Aug 17, 2004
#16
  • Aug 17, 2004
  • #16
What do you mean, when you say, "take the coil wire out of the distirbutor" Whats the coil wire. Sorry may be a dumb question. But im having trouble pictureing what this is.
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
34
129
Aug 17, 2004
#17
  • Aug 17, 2004
  • #17
the coil is on the driver side fender. it has a "spark plug wire" coming off the top and going to the dizzy (distributor) cap. that lone wire from the coil to the dizzy supplies all of your spark.

good luck. the repair manual should have some supplemental info for you, as well.
 
B

beemrmem3

Founding Member
Jan 8, 2002
831
0
0
Washington
Aug 18, 2004
#18
  • Aug 18, 2004
  • #18
Oh ok. I knew you were supposed to take that off. I thought you were talking about some wire in the middle of the distributor. Im debating weither to put a distributor in or just take it to bradcustomauto. The only do vettes and stangs. Cause i know ill be pist if this distributor doesnt fix the problem.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Distributor installed wrong
  • djj62478
  • Jun 14, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
4
Views
210
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Jun 21, 2026
CAMTWO1070
A
1987 5.0 speed density Foxbody crank no start
  • Alan2204
  • May 23, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
10
Views
316
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech May 30, 2026
Mcmahst
1990 Mustang with no-start condition - Fixed and how-to
  • TTSaleen
  • Mar 22, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
0
Views
136
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Mar 22, 2026
TTSaleen
Engine 86-93 V8 Distributor Collar Differences
  • AeroCoupe
  • Feb 15, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
17
Views
832
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Mar 9, 2025
AeroCoupe
K
Resolved Weird sound coming from a freshly rebuilt 5.0L
  • karhoot
  • Jun 24, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
7
Views
212
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Jun 27, 2026
Mac131
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?