Distributor: Service and Repair

REMOVAL

1. Disconnect battery ground cable.
2. Disconnect coil secondary cable at coil.
3. Remove distributor cap. Do not remove cables from distributor cap. Do not remove rotor.
4. Disconnect distributor wiring harness from main engine wiring harness.
5. Remove distributor hold-down bolt and clamp.
6. Lift distributor from engine noting position of rotor.
7. Remove and discard old distributor gasket.

INSTALLATION

Fig. 2 Oil Pump Gear Slot Alignment:

1. Ensure oil pump gear slot is aligned slightly before 0.0 o'clock position, Fig.2.
2. Remove camshaft position sensor from distributor housing by lifting straight up.

Fig. 3 Mating Access Hole Alignment:

3. Rotate distributor and install suitable 3/16 inch pin punch through plastic ring and into mating access hole in distributor housing to prevent shaft and rotor from rotating, Fig.3.

4. Clean distributor mounting hole area of engine block and install new gasket.

Fig. 4 Distributor Base Pre-position Alignment:

5. Pre-position distributor into engine block while holding centerline of base slot in the 1 o'clock position, Fig.4.
6. The rotor and distributor will rotate clockwise during installation due to helical gears on distributor and camshaft.

Fig. 5 Distributor Base Seated Position:

7. When distributor is fully seated to engine block, the centerline of base slot should be aligned to clamp bolt mounting hole on engine, and centerline of base slot should be slightly past 3 o'clock position, Fig.5. It may be necessary to rotate rotor and distributor shaft very slightly to engage shaft with slot in pump gear. The same may have to be done to engage distributor gear with camshaft gear.
8. The distributor is correctly positioned when:
a. Rotor is pointed at the 3 o'clock position.
b. Pin punch is still installed in distributor.
c. No. 1 cylinder is set at Top Dead Center (TDC).
d. Centerline of slot at base of distributor is aligned to centerline of distributor hold-down bolt hole on engine block.
9. Install distributor hold-down clamp bolt and torque to 17 ft. lbs.
10. Remove pin punch from distributor.
11. Install camshaft position sensor to distributor, then the rotor.
12. Install distributor cap with all high tension wires connected and torque hold-down clamp screws to 26 inch lbs.
13. Connect distributor wiring harness to main engine wiring harness.
14. Connect battery ground cable.