Starting issue

patrickt · #1 (**permalink**) 10-26-2018, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davids2toys

I put PB blaster on the rotor screws and the Magnetic pick-up hold down nuts. One nut is pretty easy to get at but it appears the threads are stripped and it wont come off, just keeps turning around and around. The other nut is very close to the magnet body so a socket will not clear past it.Using a wrench will also be and issue because of the turkey pan. Why would they the frame so close to the nut, there is a ton of room in there.]

No drilling, please. No distributor removal either. I have an extra magnetic pickup kit, so I measured it for you. The button head screw comes up from under the distributor. A 9/64" hex fits it. The locknut is 11/32". Do not pull the distributor out of the engine except as a last gasp solution. But remember, the "orientation" of your magnetic pickup is based on the whim of your engine builder. Also remember that you can turn your distributor one way or another to gain a little room to get your Allen wrench under there. Once you have the screw locked down from turning, just use whatever you can get over the nuts to take them off. Here, I went down to my car and put a mechanic's mirror angled to show you where they are.

patrickt · #2 (**permalink**) 10-26-2018, 08:23 AM

Here's an even better picture than my angled mirror shot above.

patrickt · #3 (**permalink**) 10-26-2018, 08:40 AM

Note in the instructions https://www.jegs.com/InstallationIns.../121-84661.pdf that there is the chance, if you try really really hard, that you can put the magnet in backwards and the engine won't run.

Pay particular attention to the stripe on the end of the magnet. If the car won't start after you put your magnetic pickup back in then you did indeed manage to put the magnet in backwards.

davids2toys · #4 (**permalink**) 10-26-2018, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

No drilling, please. No distributor removal either. I have an extra magnetic pickup kit, so I measured it for you. The button head screw comes up from under the distributor. A 9/64" hex fits it. The locknut is 11/32". Do not pull the distributor out of the engine except as a last gasp solution. But remember, the "orientation" of your magnetic pickup is based on the whim of your engine builder. Also remember that you can turn your distributor one way or another to gain a little room to get your Allen wrench under there. Once you have the screw locked down from turning, just use whatever you can get over the nuts to take them off. Here, I went down to my car and put a mechanic's mirror angled to show you where they are.

Thanks Pat,
So you think the whole bolt is turning huh? I am thinking the bolt treads into the distributor body so if you were trying to remove the nut in a CCW direction, you would be tighten the bolt. That is why I think it is stripped.
If you look at your kit you will see one of those nuts is very close to the frame of the magnet so you cant get a socket on there.
I don't see where the location of the pick up is up to the builder, the hole in the part are going to the fixed location of the bolts? Maybe I am niot understanding you correctly. The reason I mentioned removing the distributor is there is a PDF from MSD that tells you to do it. I tried to post it but it is bigger that the forum limit of 39KB. If you pm me your email I will send it to you.
If I am replacing the hardware does it really matter how I get the nuts and bolts out. I was not sure those bolt were going to be used or the old ones stay in place and act as studs.
There is very little room to work, spinning the dist. around sounds like a good plan...as long as you mark it before moving it...lol

patrickt · #5 (**permalink**) 10-26-2018, 11:53 AM

I meant that the engine builder can place the orientation of the distributor in any direction that he wants, so long as he adjusts the location of the plug wires accordingly. Yes, I think you're just turning the screws, and you get new ones in that little kit. See if you can't just put an Allen wrench in the bottom of the screw and then it won't turn any more and those nuts are going to come right off in a jiffy. Yessirreee, I've got a good feeling about this one....

patrickt · #6 (**permalink**) 10-26-2018, 12:17 PM

... and the reason I am hesitant about you pulling your distributor out is that I have this vision of you writing "the distributor came right up very easily, but as I was lifting it out I heard something go clack as if it fell down in to the oil pan or something...."