Hey, Yesterday I was trying to do my ignition timing at school (They have a nice Snap On timing light). Anyways, I had to get the distributor loose in order to do it, so I was under the hood, literally using ratchets, extentions, open ends, combinations, small combinations, and it got to the point where I was just dropping everything on to the tranny. What am I supposed to use to get that thing loose? Thanks KP.

Get a distributor wrench. It a curved round shaft with a boxed end to go on the bolt.

It can be a pain to loosen. On some vehicles I've found that the TV cable runs right across the top of the bolt. Which tends to push the wrench off the bolt.

The bolt head is 15mm, which is difficult to find in a distributor wrench. Others here have used a 15mm socket with a swivel on the extension, or a crows foot.

RBob.

I use a real short stubby box-end wrench and bust a knucke or two .

So glad the new motor has no dizzy

I used a flexhead ratchet wrench and a couple f bloody knuckles. After I adjusted my timing I jest left the distributor snug so that I can turn it by hand whenever I need to but tight enough so that the timing isn't jumping around.

if u don't have a distributor wrench use a uni-versal joint and an extention and that should do it. thats how i did mine

I've got one if you need to borrow it Kevman. Crowsfoot wrenches too if you want to use a ratchet.

I removed a lot of stuff from the passenger side enine bay, so I just shove my hand in there to hand-tighten, then a rachet to tighten all the way. My old way was interesting: rachet+6" extension+u-joint+6" extension+u-joint+15mm short socket.

I ditched my a/c a while back and it's slightly easier. Don't have to cram my arm in at a wierd angle atleast.

I have a ratched that I bent the handle on one day, while trying to get a siezed bolt loose. It just so happens it's perfect for removing the dizzy bolt.

Hey Rgauder, sounds good, where abouts are you located?

I'm in Tecumseh. pm me.

I built a 15 mm distributor wrench. Got a distributor wrench from autozone and cut the head off and added a 15 mm wrench on the end then welded it. It has made the whole distributor thing very easy

I just ground the bolt so that it would fit in my distributor wrench, as I had a standard the next size down....I guess you need it out first though.

I used a 15 mm open/box end wrench. I had to alternate the wrench from the box end to the open end every 1/8th of a turn. Do that about 20 times and it should be loose enough

I had the same issues i got around it by putting 2- 6 inch extensions together with a universal joint and a 15mm socket on the end. You just have to push the kickdown cable out of the way and wiggle the socket down onto the bolt head. With the long extensions, you can turn the bolt from way up top instead of being elbow deep in the motor and loosing skin on the crap sticking out of the firewall. If you have issues getting the socket to slip onto the bolt, just turn the extension the opposite way that your ratchet is switched to, this will turn the socket backwards until it lines up and slips over the bolt, then just loosen as normal. Same principal is used for tightening it back up.

Or buy a $15 distributor wrench.

trouble is you have a better chance of finding hen's teeth than finding a 15mm dist wrench, trust me i looked. I already had these tools on hand and they work well so why spend extra $$ when you dont have to

If you have the timing set correctly, then why would you need to change it again? If you keep having to play with it, something else is wrong.

I don't understand why you feel that you need to have the quick ability to change your timing on a regular enough basis to not tighten it down all the way...

he might be dialing in the best setting. I know i end up messing with the dist alot when trying to find the best setting when i advance it beyond what they call for stock. I currently have mine set to 12 deg BTDC with no signs of detonation. And its a great way to improve power/drivability. Very common thing with the 5.0 mustang guys, they are 10 deg stock and they take them to 13, 14, even 15 degrees and pick up about 12 horse or so. Works very well for 2.8's too

Ebay.
A MAC for $10 or a Snap-On for $20 right now. I'm lazy so I'd rather spend some cash to do it quickly.