Dizzy Stuck In 1850 Engine

[David Embery]

Hi Guys,

Whilst looking yesterday at the March 1972 Dolomite 1850 we have reserved for the Round Britain Reliability Run in October, it came to our attention that the AC Delco D302 was just not moving at all.

Investigation showed that both securing bolts for the Dizzy were both already missing. My basic thinking was that the Dizzy should then just lift out. But No. it won’t move either up/down or rotate left/right Marks suggest that at some in its past, someone had already had a go at trying to move the Dizzy by hitting it using a drift/screwdriver etc. that doesn’t appear to have worked either. I think failure to move it has meant it has just been left stuck in its position and past owner(s) counting their blessings as the engine started ok and ran.

Clearly, we can’t leave things as they are. We can’t check adjust timing, add electronic ignition module etc.

Pulling, pushing etc has only led to a small lifting of the Dizzy 3-5 millimetres from its seating on the engine block.

Just wondered if anyone has experienced this in the past? If so, we would delighted to hear back from them with ideas etc.

Look forward to hearing from anyone who could help us identify what the problem & solution are.

Cheers

David

[xvivalve]

Hello David,

The only thing holding the distributor in to the block is the friction created by a thick rubber 'O' ring which is only some 5 mm or so below the mounting flange, see photograph




below that, the casting has a machined flat side which should allow the distributor to be rotated even if detritus has built up between it and the block.

I'd therefore suggest perseverance may lead to success given you've managed to lift it a little way already, perhaps trying to rotate it as well as drifting it upwards.

The skew gear may have worn either on the shaft or the jackshaft, but were this sufficient to prevent disengagement I'd suggest it wouldn't spin either!

You could try removing the oil pump and using something to drift the hex shaft upwards, but with the engine in the car space will be limited.

[David Embery]

Cheers Alun. That is very reassuring guidance from you and much appreciated.

It certainly is unnerving to have the Dizzy so stuck in the block and the only option you can see as open as a way forward is to whack it hard whilst also pushing and pulling until it eventually comes out. Couldn’t help worrying what damage that action in itself was doing let alone the underlying root cause for it being so stuck in the block in the first place.

Will keep you posted with our progress. You are right about the lack of space. As we already have the gearbox out, our plan for the next session is to get the engine out and tHereby get some much better purchase on the stuck Dizzy.

Cheers

David