Does anyone make a special wrench for the distributor hold down?

[yellowstang1994]

I adjust this thing so freakin much it'd be nice to use something other than this 1/2 wrench all the time. Is there any better way of going about this? I'll get my distributor in there right sooner or later. It's a tooth off right now, I just haven't had time to make sure it's on the #1 cylinder compression, as easy as that is to do. Also are there any side effects of running a distributor one tooth off?

Thanks, Ted

 

[WhiteDevil]

Well let me start with saying that there is no such thing as your distributor being a tooth off. If its not in right the your timing is retarded or advanced. So get a timing light and check your timing, if its off turn the distributor till its right.

Second my grandpa used to be a mechanic and he gave me this 1/2 thing that is shaped like a long L with a handle on top. And it works perfect of takin off the dist. hold down.

 

[Hef5.0weisen]

I use 1/2 swivel sockets on 1/4 long extensions, works ok. You could heat up said 1/2 wrench and put a 90 degree bend in it, then weld on an adapter to fit a ratchet, but that's a bit much huh? there probably is a special tool out there for it. I stabbed my dizzy one tooth off before, wouldn't start, twisted it a bit runs fine now, no problems

 

[greenlantern]

Yes they do, I bought mine from advance auto parts but I believe you can get them from Sears as well.

 

[yellowstang1994]

Wellllllll ok i'll tell you guys my problem then. First I was under the impression you could put in the distributor like 180 degrees off or something of the sort? Well one day my stator went bad in the dist. I replaced the whole entire distributor and the first time I set it in there my car sounded like a big block and would barely run. But I set it in perfect. It took me 2 more tries to set it in to get it where it felt right. But ever since I set it in there, my car won't rev past 4500rpms. It feels like sort of a rev limiter, but it's weird... It shoots all the way up to 5500 when I hit 4500 but it feels like a big misfire. I replaced my coil, plug wires, spark plugs all gapped correctly, cap, and rotor. Everything is brand spanking new. Ok... well now this is the thing. If I advance my timing to 17 degrees I can't drive past 5500 rpms. If I set it to the stock 10degrees I can't drive past 3500 rpms, and if I set it at 13 degrees I can't drive it past 4500rpms. These are rough estimates because it's hard to see what it stops at before it shoots up. I've eliminated every single thing that could cause this to do that. Beside's the timing chain and the distributor being in there wrong. It didn't do it before I replaced the distributor. I could rev until I blow my engine. But it just kinda sucks whenI want to race and my car kinda shuts down at 4grand. I don't know what else it could be.... I mean do I get a another new distributor? If you can't set it in there wrong, they basically sold me a bad distributor? They aren't that cheap. What else could it be? Please help me!

 

[Joes95GT]

You are going to need either a 1 1/16 or 1 1/8 crows foot. I can't remember the size because it's been a while. If you don't want to spend the big bucks from Snap-On, I'm sure Craftsman has them.

Joe

 

[LAST302]

Most part stores have them, and they look like this. They are very handy.

 

[maypo59]

1st make sure you installed the distro with the motor at #1 cylinder TDC on the COMPRESSION stroke. #2 make sure your wires are correct for your engine/cam, there are two different firing orders for the 302/5.0.

The distibutor is driven by the cam, and so you cant really put it 180 degrees, or any other number off.. when you set the timing, it is "off" by a pre-determined amount. I actually saw this proved once. On a bet, a proffesional mechanic friend of mine put a new distro in a 351, without indexing it or anything, THEN ran #1 to tdc on comp strorke, marked that spot on the cap as #1, and it was at like 8o'clock instead of 11, and then put the wires on in the proper order.. starting from there, ran fine. I think when most ppl say it's "180 degrees out" they actually mean it was set to #1 TDC, but not on the compression stroke...

OH, and yes you can get the wrench you want at any azone or orielly's.. Knew there was a reason I was posting..lol