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Anyone have any ideas of how to break free a Stuck distributor. Replacing the engine in my sons LUV (stock 1.8L) with an engine with low miles and we cannot get the distributor to move for adjustment, can't get it out, can't get it to budge at all. We were going to replace it with the one out of his old engine (that distributor came right out) since he upgraded to pertronix but can't get the one in the replacement engine out. The engine came out of an 81 LUV so now I'm thinking about just attempting to go with that one and convert to electronic ignition...if I can figure it out. There is only two wires (A red colored one and a White one) from the Electronic dizzy but I'm not sure as to which side of the coil to connect each one to. It's still suppose to move for adjustment.

The engine ran fine when we pulled it yesterday with no issues at all and it only has about 80,000 miles on it , just the darn distributor issue now. Any ideas?

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In life there is the "Way things should be" and then "There's the way they are".

2005 Silverado 3/4T Crew Cab
1981 Luv 2WD
1979 Luv 4x4 Currently going through Open Heart and Cosmetic surgery
1995 Roughneck JetBoat
1981 Luv parts trk

Is the engine installed or is it where you can get the oil pan off? I think with the oil pan off you can see the bottom of the distributor shaft, maybe try to break it loose by tapping on the shaft or even drive it out from the bottom with a soft drift. I would soak the top part that's corroded together with penetrating oil & use something like a pipe wrench on the body to put back-&-forth rotational tension on it while you tap on the bottom.

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'78 Chevy LUV,1.9,4sp,headers,31's,SAS Dana 30,Dana 20,SOA rear w/Aussie Locker, rough body, bought new 12/4/78.
'87 Trooper,2.3,5sp,headers,31's,ball joint flip & spacer,Aussie Locker rear,Superwinch hubs,brush guard w/5.5K winch,more to come.

Thanks for the reply. We did install the engine and I'm hoping to get this handled without having to pull it. I keep spraying it penetrating oil at the top where it drops in. I haven't tried the pipe wrench yet but I have had a big pair of pliars on it and was shaking the entire truck pulling back and forth on it. I've tapped the base with a Hammer and punch while trying to turn. I'm hoping it will eventually break loose. Going out now to hit it with another shot of fluid before I head back to work from lunch. Keep the ideas coming.

_________________
In life there is the "Way things should be" and then "There's the way they are".

2005 Silverado 3/4T Crew Cab
1981 Luv 2WD
1979 Luv 4x4 Currently going through Open Heart and Cosmetic surgery
1995 Roughneck JetBoat
1981 Luv parts trk

For one use PB Blaster...it has a catalyst in it that helps break loose just about anything. If it was me in this situation...I would install and wire the starter in.Crank over the motor to make sure the distributor will turn.You might have to use a slide hammer to get it out!

Thanks Cleaver, we have wired the starter and verified the Distributor turns. Tee engine was just running like a dream before we pulled it but I guess I should have made sure of the details like this before putting it in. I do have a good slide hammer and had not thought of that. I will have to see what i have for a way to connect it. i can always wrap a chain around it and try that.

Here's a separate question on this subject. If we decide to leave the Electronic distributor and use it....do i have to change the coil out with the one from the '81 parts truck?

_________________
In life there is the "Way things should be" and then "There's the way they are".

2005 Silverado 3/4T Crew Cab
1981 Luv 2WD
1979 Luv 4x4 Currently going through Open Heart and Cosmetic surgery
1995 Roughneck JetBoat
1981 Luv parts trk

Check the coil output(specs) for the coils.If they are close...I wouldn't worry about it.

Got it all straightened out and running like a dream. Distributor is still stuck so I hope we don't have to make any adjustments any time soon. Still shooting it with PB blaster here and there. It has electronic ignition now anyway. The LUV is back on the road.

_________________
In life there is the "Way things should be" and then "There's the way they are".

2005 Silverado 3/4T Crew Cab
1981 Luv 2WD
1979 Luv 4x4 Currently going through Open Heart and Cosmetic surgery
1995 Roughneck JetBoat
1981 Luv parts trk

That PB Blaster is good stuff.I have used it to break the rings loose on seized engines.

This might sound stupid...but could the distributor have two hold downs and you just didn't see the other one? I know sometimes you just don't look at things as well as you should. I pulled a motor one time thinking I had a dead cylinder and all it was was a rocker arm button and bent push rod were holding the valve open.

That didn't sound stupid at all. We did look all around the dizzy and only found the normal hold down. Thanks for all the replies guys. Truck is running great.

_________________
In life there is the "Way things should be" and then "There's the way they are".

2005 Silverado 3/4T Crew Cab
1981 Luv 2WD
1979 Luv 4x4 Currently going through Open Heart and Cosmetic surgery
1995 Roughneck JetBoat
1981 Luv parts trk

Strange stuff happens. A little moisture plus aluminum and things can get tight pretty fast. There is also the chance some prior owner replaced the O ring with something a lot more sticky. The dreaded prior owner disease has caused many many ailments in the past.

I'd think it wouldn't be to hard to get it loose though, kind of surprised that it is so difficult to get it to break free. I've never had a LUV dizzy stuck that tight.

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95 Isuzu Trooper Daily Driver
86 Isuzu Trooper reliable backup
77 LUV 2wd stock beltway blaster (resting)
79 4x4 LUV project: 2.6L, 5spd, 31s (eventually)

MEPR: Man, my 4x4 makes all other LUVs look good