What's the trick to getting in behind the manifold to the distributor hold down bolt. I've tried sockets(didn't fit), A bent wrench(couldn't turn it), and even a 9/16 crows foot(made a bit of progress but the head of the bolt got to a point that I couldn't get the crow's foot on it to turn it anymore). Or will I just have to fork over the cash for a GM distributor wrench?

 

I just adjusted timing on a TPI an hour ago. Remove the styling cover above the distributor, unbolt the coil from it's mounts, and you can fit a 9/16 distributor wrench in there (not real easily) to loosen the hold down bolt.

 

They also make a "distributor wrench" that makes the whole process a breeze. They got 'em at Sears and most auto parts stores.

 

yeah i done mine for the first time about a month ago, had to buy one of the special dizzy wrenches, i was lucky to find one straight away here in the UK on ebay that nobody else bid on !

i also tried a socket, spanner, everything but you just cant get to the damn thing, the dizzy wrench is just enough to crack the nut off as theres still hardly any room for it to turn but it done the job

 

I've tried everything I have access to, short of taking the plenup and runners off. But I guess I'll be buying a dizzy wrench. thanks for all the info guys.

 

 

I have the wrench pictured above and a few others in various sizes for different engines. The Snap On units are very good and they offer about every imaginable shape. I also have a 9/16" X 3/8" drive torque extender that is basically like a box end crows foot but about 2" long from center to center. It works perfectly to get into difficult distributors. I don't ever have to detach the coil either.