Broken Distributor Body - Stuck in Engine

[Dmckraut]

Hello,
I would like to introduce #3587 - it has been sitting since at least 1993. I purchased it last summer from my in-laws' neighbor who is the widow of the PO. They owned it since 1987. I have been tearing down the top of the engine to perform a VOD-job and had John Hervey rebuild the injection system. This has gone pretty smoothly, with no broken bolts until today. I decided to remove the distributor so I can clean behind it, and so my woes have begun. After removing the adjustment nut, I realized that I could not move the distributor. It started moving after I tapped it with a dead blow and a wooden rod and spraying with penetrating oil for a while. It still would not come out, so I persuaded a bit and the top of the body broke off. Now the shaft is sticking out and the rest of the distributor is still stuck. What should I do?

Thanks for your help!

55765

[Andrew]

Hello,
I would like to introduce #3587 - it has been sitting since at least 1993. I purchased it last summer from my in-laws' neighbor who is the widow of the PO. They owned it since 1987. I have been tearing down the top of the engine to perform a VOD-job and had John Hervey rebuild the injection system. This has gone pretty smoothly, with no broken bolts until today. I decided to remove the distributor so I can clean behind it, and so my woes have begun. After removing the adjustment nut, I realized that I could not move the distributor. It started moving after I tapped it with a dead blow and a wooden rod and spraying with penetrating oil for a while. It still would not come out, so I persuaded a bit and the top of the body broke off. Now the shaft is sticking out and the rest of the distributor is still stuck. What should I do?

Thanks for your help!

55765

Soak the area with penatrating oil for an extended period of time. Like days.

Have you turned the engine at all to confirm the gear isnt seized to the cam gear and / or the distributor body? If not, i would gently try to turn the engine crank by hand. If it won't move, don't force it.

I would also try to remove the drivers side valve cover, this will allow you to inspect the cam gear and soak it in penetrating oil.

You can source a distributor from a PRV powered Volvo. The late 70's Volvo distributor has a more agressive advance curve than the stock DMC unit, thus a few of us are already running that distributor as a drop in upgrade. If it comes to it, you can also source an entire cylinder head from a junk yard Volvo with a B28F. Just remember that you will need to search for a "right" side volvo cylinder head.

Andrew
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[David T]

Penetrating fluid, patience, and a slap-hammer. Your bigger problem is now replacing that distributor. You can try the usual vendors or you can try Sheriff Bob @ 919-477-7516 in NC. Good source for used parts. Your broken distributor is still a source of some good parts like the impulse coil so don't throw it away. You are also going to have to "retime" the motor to get the distributor back in correctly. Means bringing cylinder #1 to TDC on compression stroke and lining up the rotor to cylinder #1 on the cap. Then a timing light to set the timing to spec. Don't feel too bad, something always seems to go wrong when doing this job. Usually breaking bolts but there are a lot of things that can go wrong.

[Dmckraut]

The gear was not stuck to the cam - The stub of the distributor was stuck to the head. I welded a 3/8" bolt to the end of the shaft and used some sockets to pull it out.

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[Andrew]

The gear was not stuck to the cam - The stub of the distributor was stuck to the head. I welded a 3/8" bolt to the end of the shaft and used some sockets to pull it out.

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Awesome improvising on that repair! Proof that necessity is the mother of invention!

Congrats on getting it out!

[David T]

It must have been really stuck. Well, now that you got it out you have to start searching for a replacement. Unusual for it to have been so difficult, must have been a little corroded. Make sure, when you install the "new" one, it can move freely so you will be able to set the timing.