ok, so im getting ready to go to the track for the first time....ever. and figure that i'll advance my timing a little bit now so i know how to do it when i get there. so i bust out my new light and start going through all the steps. get to the one "loosen the Distributor hold down bolt". So i locate the bolt and go to loosen it, i cant get the dang thing to budge! Its the 9/16" bolt that goes through a little bracket on the distributor into the intake manifold right? i've started useing the PB blaster i've got left over from my header install on it. Another thing, i read we're supposed to unhook our (ESC?) connector, thats the single wire that sits over the passenger side strut tower right? outside of the AC?

-chuck

 

yes, the connector is on the pass. strut mount area, it is the brown wire, it needs ot be disconnected when you set the timing.

as for the hold down bolt, you have the right one, how are you getting at that bold, there is a specialy tool that is a curved box wrench, if you dont' have you, you might see if you know anyone with one, it might help you access it better.

if you are using one, and PB blaster isnt' working, i dont' have much other usefully help, other than to get more leverage, and try not to strip it.

 

I use a distributor wrench that I got at autozone. It makes it much easier to get that loose. You may also want to remove your air cleaner to give you more room. The ESC is the tan wire that has the ling slim black connector on it like you described. Don't forget to paint a white stripe on your balancer groove so that it will be easier to read.

 

yea, i thought that brown wire was the right one, thought i'd double check though. that mark in the balencer is outlined in white now too.

I managed to get a normal wrench on it by going behind the coil and that bracket w/ the TV cable. But I couldnt get it to budge. I had to put the parking break on b/c i was rocking the whole damn car trying to get that bolt loose. I bet my neighbor has one of those curved box wrenches, I'll try that, if he doesnt have it i'll run over to autozone and pick up the distributor wrench.

"next loosen your dristrubutor hold down bolt"

heh, easier said than done, reminds me of the shift kit.

-chuck

 

i like buying new tools, just get the distributor tool life is much better with it then without.

 

ok, go to napa to get the distributor wrench, its over $20 and i dont have the cash right now. So i go to autozone and find one for $5. its got a lifetime warrenty so i figure it'll work. go home, put it on the bolt, fits great. five minutes later i snapped the damn thing in half. no joke, bolt wont budge, i never had a bolt stuck this bad, not even an exhaust manifold one. i returned the wrench, maybe the napa one is stronger, i'll get it when i find money. sorry just had to rant, pissed me off.

-chuck

 

Can you get to it with a short socket and a swivel ratchet?

Steve

 

put the box endof the 9/16, put it on the bolt of the distributer hold down. and take another box end and stick it on the end of the open end to get more torque on the bolt. works for me everytime on every bolt that was stuck or tight. a lil trick i learned from the old guys at work.

 

it would work fine if there was enough room to put a standard wrench in there, as it is with a distributor wrench the most you can get on the bolt is a 1/4 turn unless you remove everything thats around that area (if your just doing a simple timing adjustment its not worth taking it apart) but even then its still a PITA. the only alternative is a crows foot with a modified extension. a swivel ratchet should work. but itll be a tight fit.

the wrench with knurled end is what i use. you can see how a standard wrench wont fit/work. its too long and not shaped the rite way, a socket wont work either.

Wraping a wrench on another wrench works wonders ive done it numerous times, with success.

 

1st and only

 

never heard of breaking a wrench on a bolt, but ive sure broke alot of bolts with my wrench.. but anythings possible, are you sure your turning it the right way?
and now.. im going to autozone to buy that $5 distributor wrench :P
btw dont forget to go back to autozone and get your $5 back!

 

Go to sears and get crows foot. Thats what I did for mine, I couldn't find a distributor wrench in the size I needed. Crows foot is great.

 

too late, already done :P but its made in taiwan so i totally believe he broke it
my timing was like 1 or 2 below, i put it at 4 advanced now.. it used to stumble slightly if you revved it now its smooth
i turned the dist the wrong way at first and i thought the tbi was going to suck me in
also found out why i keep getting the check engine light for the egr, the tiny little vaccum hose going to the valve broke

 

LOL! - funny. heard that noise before

 

Craftsman

Only $10. If you're lazy, order online and p/u in the store.