How to pull a stock distributor???

[Jon350]

My brothers 66 mustang has a stock 289 motor with a stock distributor I was going to replace. I tried the other day and was foiled. I took off the distributor cap and the bolt anchoring the distributor to the block. It pulled out literally about 1", then it stopped like it was hitting something or stuck on something. I tried turing the rotor while pulling it up, but nothing happened. I tried turning the engine a couple times in short intervals then tried each time to pull the distributor, but nothing happened. My brother was going to take the car to a shop in a couple days and i wanted to avoid that. I was wondering if I could take a little ball-peen hammer to the bottom of the distributor body after it stops at the 1" point? I would tap the distributor body in and upward motion. Would this pop the damn thing out? Orrrrrrrrrrrrr is there some kind locking mechanism on the distributors rotor preventing it from being pulled out? Please let me know your experiences!!!

 

[rbohm]

they usually take a bit of wiggling to get them out. you can tap the dist on the underside of the housing, however you dont have much room to work with a hammer. just keep working it out, it will eventually come out.

 

[69Rcode_Mach1]

Sounds to me like the dist gear is meshed with the cam gear. I would not tap it with a hammer. Just try wiggling the rotor by hand and going in short upward jolts.

 

[limey66]

I had that problem a couple of weeks ago. I got it an inch up and then it stuck. I used a small crow bar (I think you call them pry bars), a tyre lever would be ideal, and gently levered it out. Worked a treat. Go easy if you're thinking of using a hammer - the dizzy casting could shatter.

 

[tylerrocks]

I just used a picklefork as a prybar. Jerryriggin'

Tyler

 

[66HertzClone]

Careful use of an oil filter wrench can also help.

 

[jcode68]

I had this problem a few years ago also. Spray the base of the distributor where it meets the block with a good penetrating oil. Really soak it down good and let it sit overnight. This will help loosen everything up and using the prybar method, you should be able to get it out without damaging anything.