slowboy need help to clarify doubt about: : How do I get to screw, under distributor plate, to remove vacuum advance, without dropping it in distributor?
I have a 1972 GMC Custom 1500 pick-up. I want to replace vacuum advance canister on distributor. The screws are attached under distributor [plate?]. How can I remove screws, without the risk of dropping them down distributor? Also, they look impossible to get to. Can I move plate, some how, to make it easier to get to screws?
Thank-you,
Keith
350 with 4bbl
Also, it is HEI distributor
Strange!!
It is HEI distributor, and it has a vacuum advance canister,[or something resembling one], with a rubber hose running from it-to carburetor. If it doesn’t have a vacuum advance, what is it that looks like one, and is hooked up like one?
Try this:
Answer by ashley v
is it a chevy 350?
Add your own answer in the comments!
use a magnetic screw losen top plate screws if applicable
Stuff a rag or something in the holes so nothing can fall into them. Use a magnetic screwdriver too.
very carefully
use a magnetic screwdriver
also a little grease will help if it is not magnetic then spray brake cleaner to get rid of grease
Use a magnetic screw driver. If you don’t have one then take a length of 16 ga. insulated wire & coil it tightly around the shaft of the screw driver all the way to the tip. Leave the ends long enough so they are able to contact both posts on the battery.
Hold each end of the wire with pliers & touch one end to the positive & the other to the negative posts of the battery. Be careful as the wire will instantly glow red hot.
Remove the wire from the screw driver & discard.
The screw driver will now be magnetic.
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Mark the position of the rotor & then pull the distributor out so you can work on it.
Sorry but if it is a HEI distributor it doesn’t have a vacuum advance so I can figure out what you’re doing.
OK it we know what you dont have now ..second do not use magnetic screw driver ..go to sears buy electricians locking screw driver…blade is two blades together with a slide lock on it place blade in screw slot slide the lock down ..the screw is locked onto the screwdriver
Keith gejandsons answer is the best, you have to remove the distribute to get at the vacuum advance. It is an HEI distributor with a vacuum advance.
1) mark the position of the rotor to the distributor housing
2) mark the position of the distributor to the engine
3) remove the clamp bolt to release the distributor
4) pull the distributor
5) after looking at the position of the drive gear (what way is up) then punch out the pin that holds the gear on the shaft using an 1?8″ punch I put a rag under it it keep it from getting lost and use a block of wood to rest it on when hammering out the roll pin.
6) remove the distributor shaft by pulling up while twisting back and forth, if it has carbon build up spray the shaft with carburetor cleaner and work it up and down while twisting the shaft and it will come out.
then you can remove the screws and replace the vacuum advance. Be sure the top centrifugal advance is free and then reassemble the distributor and set the timing.