454 vortec tune up

[Dirtautoguy]

My dad has a 1997 gmc 2500 with a 454 vortec in it. It was in bad need of a tune up so we started on that today. Everything went well the plugs and wires were definatley due and then we got to the cap and rotor. We got the screw closest to the firewall out without to many problems but it seems as though the screw closest to the manifold is covered by part of the manifold. If we pry on the cap a little we can kind of get the bit on there but nothing solid. I was wondering if there was a better way to do this or a tool or to just keep trying? Anyone else have this problem?

[ifixedit]

On these years GM used a real rinky dink set-up for the screws that hold down the cap which I've found quite maddening to deal with, I don't know if they could have made them any smaller and more troublesome to get at and get out if they tried. Also be very careful when you re-tighten them as they strip out the hole they screw in to on the body of the distributor very easily or worse the tab on the distributor breaks off completely leaving you no hole to put the screw back in to at all.

 

The only suggestion I would have is to first carefully mark the position of the distributor, then loosen the bolt that holds it down in place and then rotate the distributor to a position where you can hopefully get at the screw more easily, once your done rotate the distributor to it's original position and retighten the bolt.

[j-ten-ner]

I don't know how much room you've got. But maybe that would help?

 

 

 

so long

j-ten-ner

[Duelin]

Also if you are able to get the screws out use a little grease or anti seize when you put them back in. Those screws have a tendency to seize up and you end up breaking the screw off before you get it loose.