I am in the process of removing the 318 from my 77 camper van. It is a tight fit. The distributor needs to be removed.
Haynes manual says to set the timing to number one. Is there some kind of locking device that stops the distributor from coming out in other positions. It does not won’t to come out at the moment, and the rain has prevented me from pursuing. So here I am inside again.
1. Sorry to ask, but have you removed the "dog house"? In a van with a 318, you should be able to work on the distributor with easy access to it from inside the van.
2. The distributor will come out in any position, but you DON'T WANT THAT. Basically, you need to remove and re-install the distributor in exactly the same position as it is now. If you just pull it out "whenever", it can be fixed, but the job is WAY WAY more complicated. Pulling the distributor when the engine is at "top dead center" for cylinder #1 makes sure you can put it back in exactly the same position easily.
3. The "top dead center" mark (timing marks) on harmonic balancer (behind big lower pulley) turns around and passes the correct position TWICE (2 engine revolutions) and only one of those times the timing marks lines up is correct for cylinder #1 to be at top dead center.
Procedure:
a. determine which spark plug wire is cylinder #1 (front cylinder, driver's side)
b. rotate engine using a 1-1/4" socket, breaker bar and roughly 4" extension until the timing marks line up
c. open distributor cap and see if the rotor is pointing to the distributor cap terminal for cylinder #1. If yes, continue. If no, rotate the engine with the socket another full revolution until the timing marks line up a 2nd time and check to make sure the rotor is now pointing at the #1 cylinder.
d. mark base of distributor and engine block (sharpie marker) with a single line which goes over the distributor base and the engine block (marks so you can put the distributor back in the same spot)
e. with distributor cap removed, eyeball some type of landmark on the engine or near it & mark where the rotor is pointing. I like to use a piece of tape wherever the rotor is pointing. (note: when you re-install the distributor, you won't get the rotor pointing exactly at the tape, but at least you'll be pretty close)
f. Remove bolt at bottom of distributor on the distributor hold down
g. pry up on the distributor (not the cap) and rotate the distributor while prying (I can't remember which direction). Basically, there's a distributor gear and an engine gear twisted together inside the engine and you are "untwisting" while lifting up on the distributor. Turning the rotor with your hand while you pry up on the distributor is a good way to do this.
h. do what you need to on the distributor (or replace it) or whatever you need.
i. when re-installing the distributor, keep that "un-twisting" in mind and push the distributor back down into the engine while twisting the rotor (try to use the old rotor for this twisting) and pushing down. Make sure the rotor is pointed at the piece of tape you used before. If you miss, pull the distributor out, turn the rotor slightly and try again.
j. Rotate distributor body itself until the line at the base of the distributor and the engine line up again.
k. install new rotor and cap.
l. start engine and set timing again
