Technical 351 Cleveland frozen Distributor

Attempting to swap out a worn out distributor on a 1970 351 Cleveland engine. Thing is frozen solid. I have a new modern electronic distributor, so if I have to destroy it it's not the end of the world. But I hate destroying things.
Have tapped on it with a large hammer and have it soaking with penetrating oil. Even attempted a large chisel from underneath.

 

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Less than $100!!


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We have used a propane torch, or a heat gun on the base, that will let the penetrating oil wick down. Heat it carefully and in cycles, take care around that fuel line !!!!!!!

 

Marty, that thought did cross my mind, although wasn't sure how the aluminum would soak up the heat
Will give it a shot tomorrow
Thanks!!


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I have a friend who can get nearly anything apart, he showed me the heat process when pulling the distributor out of my '65 Falcon. He didn't pry upward until he got it to rotate first, using a twisting motion.

 

Yep, a strap wrench should do the trick.

 

Good luck. The last one didn't respond to a 48" chain wrench, or hanging the entire car, via the distributor housing, from a forklift fork, overnight.

 

Marty, I am with you on the science of twisting motion.
Breaking it not a problem, except worried about metal particles getting down in engine
Can stuff some rags in there and use a vacuum if necessary
Don't like being a hack
Appreciate all the info

Hanging car from ceiling???
Too funny!!


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There is an Oring on a Ford dust that is slightly larger than od of the dist . They get hard and frozen after time . Believe this or not I purschased a flat motor years ago stuck tighter than ****s hat band . An old farmer friend stopped to see what I was messing with and sees my lost efforts . He proceeds to say pour it full of Coke and let it sit . I laughed and was about to give up the chase and poured it full of Coke . Two days later engine turned slow at first but free after second Coke treatment . There is a product I have used on many frozen Harley parts , Strongarm , google this and try it also . Good Luck

 

Jake, I have also had the drive shaft stick in the dist on removal, leaving the washer/ slide clip in the pan. I took a chance and drove it for 70,000 miles with the clip/washer in the pan, maybe I should have used a magnetic plug. When I finally pulled the pan, the clip was unharmed.

 

I have used an air hammer, with the bluntest tool I could put in it, to vibrate the **** out of them to get them out. Used very gently, and moving the air hammer from side to side, with generous amounts of penetrating oil. When it will twist, you can work it up and out. Some anti-seize above the o-ring will help to keep it from happening again.

 

Just had that problem with a 400 M which is a Cleveland. Getting ready to replace long block. Had everything stripped off but the dist. After soaking for 4 days and heating and needing to turn the core in, I drilled 2 holes in the distributor at an angle so that I could shoot wd 40 directly to the dist bore in the block and some more soaking and a 3 foot bar it came out. I even made a tool to fit up from the bottom through the oil pump drive hole and tried to drive the dist . out with no luck.
I had a new replacement dist. so I was not worried about ruining the one that was in the motor.
Normally I don't use rebuilt engines ,but the customer had a small budget that was taken up by some previous terrible body work that I had to fix and then the previous shop left the car outside with no hood on it and it filled up with rain water.
Good luck getting yours out.

 

Wow, just getting to work on this cold Orlando morning (40 deg)
Warming up with a hot cup of jo' reading all these great posts.
Can't wait to go to the shop, tonight and try these suggestions.
If all else fails , I'll have some rum to go with the Coke
Check out how bad the timing chain was!
It along with a leaking vacuum advance, it's a wonder this motor ran at all
JT



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Dave, that good to know. I know it cleans up battery terminals real good.I will have to make a note of that. Thanks.Bruce.

 

Please post results when you get it out.

 

had the same years ago, think I ended up with 3 in 1 oil, heat and eventually a hub puller with a slide hammer !

 

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Love Mt Dora area
And yes will most definitely post results
Now back to fixing police cars and tractors, at the city of Winter Park


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Don't know if its already out but gut the dist and bang down on the base from insi
de with a lrg drift and hammer.

 

The ones I've run into I've always tried this. After soaking it and getting it to move, I use a "lady slipper" bar (they look like one of those carpenter tools used to pry nails & other things) under the rear of the distributor while tapping on the front to pry them out. Watched my old man replacing a FE short block in a truck one time when the distributor wouldn't come out. Had the engine sitting on the floor with everything off of it except the intake and distributor. After prying from the top and beating it from the bottom it finally came out. In about half a dozen pieces. All he said was, "looks like this guy has a bad distributor".

 

That timing chain may be a little sloppy but you should see one with the plastic teeth missing on the cam gear. You can take the chain off without moving the gears!

So far as the distributor goes, the last one of those I did I had to beat out from the bottom.

 

I would try this. I recently did this on some rusty break lines. You need to break that gunk loose.

 

Soak it with Kroil and use a pipe wrench.

 

Hey Fellas, combination of a small amount of concentrated heat, soaking
with penetrating oil and pipe wrench with jack handle....
Got it moving slightly. Actually slipped and jammed my elbow on fender. Ouch!!!!'
Large chisel, down near base, then slide hammer with chain. Success!!


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Thanks again
God forbid if you had to try and salvage, whatever distributor you're removing.


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Congrats, my dist. was in more pieces when it came out.

 

Not uncommon on Cs.

 

Dude .... those distributors ****. Electrolysis with disimilar metals ? Anyone?

I heated, beat, oiled, pried, pulled, twisted, kicked, stood, sat, fingered and f#cked mine. I was about to crush the whole car .... and my dad comes over and just bumped the starter with the key. Came right out ! Imagine if I hadn't done all the dirty work for him.

1970 351C

 

I get along okay with the distributors, it's finding correct thermostats that make me crazy but that's another story............