Reuben

I am trying to remove the distributor to send it off for a rebuild, but despite having followed all the instructions closely it will not budge. Not even with a breaker bar, screw driver and a lot of swearing. Nothing helps.
Any suggestions? I am stuck and utterly exasperated.

Thank you.

BS911

Hey Reuben. I had the same problem when I removed mine. I was wondering if there was really more than 1 bolt holding it in... there isn't. I finally had to get beneath it by coming from below with a bar. I don't remember how hard it is but if you can remove the heat/air shield that separates the upper/lower halves of the engine, you should be able to see the dist from below. I actually used the metal rod for the lug nut "wrench" placed into the bottom of the dist housing and hammering up on the rod. I was able to get a straight ahead action and someone pulling from above at the same time got it going. If you can't get the heat shield out then you could cut a small hole just big enough to get the metal rod through.

If this doesn't make any sense at all, let me know and I'll snap some pics of the setup if I can. Hope this helps.

Jeff96-993

I'm having the same problem getting the distributor out, and don't like the idea of drilling and hammering. I'll do it as a last resort, but was hoping others have found a better way. Anyone BTDT???

Thanks in advance.

Jeff96-993

Nevermind... just got it out. A well placed crowbar did the trick.

tj90

When I took off mine (with Robins oversight), I put on a pair of mechanix gloves stood over the rear bumper and left fender and pulled and pulled and pulled. It did not seem like it was budging, but it was coming out slowly. My arms were burning but it did come off. I did not use breaker bar or anything in fear of damaging cast aluminum.

If its not coming off, take a break and try again! It will work.

JimGinKC

Hey Jeff - could sure use some hints on where/how that crowbar trick worked - I've pulled and pulled on the distributor and it hasn't moved.

Don Plumley

I put just a little bit of PB Blaster to help loosen the o-ring. I also tried to use a rope to get more leverage, but ended up making a lever with a socket and a breaker bar to get it to start easing out.

Reuben

kcwsJim - I actually ended up using a tool from PepBoys (free of charge - just left deposit) that I seem to recall is called a slide hammer. Did the trick in two seconds flat. Sent my distributor off to Mark Cohen (no affiliation and so forth), and was very happy again.

Good luck!

AOW162435

This was my solution a few months ago:





Andreas

JimGinKC

Thanks guys - I'll keep at it. I don't think simply pulling is going to do it, so I'll try the socket and breaker bar, and then the slide hammer. I am planning on sending it to Mark if it ever jumps out of the engine bay (what does UPS charge to send a whole 911 to Atlanta??

BobbyT

I used a "lady foot pry bar" (see a picture here: http://www.matcotools.com/Catalog/to...ype=T&cat=2526) to take out my distributor. The rounded end is the perfect size to fit under the distributor, and easily lifts it out with no drama, banging, or potential damage to expensive parts. I think the O-ring is what makes the distributor hard to pull, but this tool "pushes" from the bottom, and mine came right out.

993Porsche

How do you know when to repair the distributor?

Ken

Robin 993DX

I use the same "lady foot" pry bar now, makes removing the distributor a walk in the park. I bought mine from Sears.

JimGinKC

ITS OUT!! Slide hammer did the trick in no time. I literally spent more time driving back and forth to Auto Zone (tool rental program) - I can't believe I've been messing with this thing since Saturday - oh well, now I know better. Thanks everyone


Ken, the manual I have says replace the belt at 50k