99 5.7 Vortec Distributor Removal

BassSJ · May 5, 2003

I am in the middle of removing the intake manifold from my 99 5.7 L vortec due to a antifreeze leak at the intake gaskett. I pretty much have everything disconnected and it is now time to pull the distributor. First question, where do you get one of funky headed screw drivers to remove the distributor cap? Does this distributor have a timing adjustment? I have gathered that I need to mark the position of the rotor and make sure it is replaced in the exact same positon. Anything else to look out for? Thanks for help in advance.

MountaineerTom · May 5, 2003

Are you talking about a Torx head screw? Kind of star shaped? If I remember corectly, that's what was on my '91. If so, you can definately get them at Sears, and I've seen them at a lot of auto parts stores (Advance Auto Parts, Auto Zone, etc.)

I had to pull mine out once on my '91 just to change the oil pressure sending unit. Not sure if the old style '99's were the same as the '91's, but just mark the distributor and intake and try to get it back the same way when you put it together.

Good luck.

americanmuscleman · May 7, 2003

Just so you know, you need to mark the exact location of the distributor before you pull it. To do this, mark the orientation of the rotor, AND mark where the distributor shaft is in relation to the intake manifold. Do this by painting a line from the distributor shaft onto the intake manifold. The distributor shaft (and whole distributor) are free to rotate once you loosen the distributor hold-down bolt, so you want to make sure you know where it was.

If you pull the distributor without marking where it was, there are procedures in most manuals on how to find it again. You'll need a timing light to get the timing back to 0 degrees.

Its a lot easier if you properly mark it before you pull it.

I'd also recommend you take sand paper, and scuff the "china walls" of the block when you remove the intake manifold. The "china walls" are where the intake manifold touches the front and back of the block. I would also scuff the intake manifold where it touches the block as well. This will help the liquid gasket adhere a lot better.

Good luck!

BassSJ · May 7, 2003

Thanks for your help guys. Everything is going pretty smoothly so far. The distributor is on schedule to come out tonight, and then off with the intake. The screws in the cap were of the torx variety. At first glance the other day I thought they looked like the type that would take a miniture drink machine key to remove them. Is there a special tool to loosen the patcock on the radiator? It is a white plastic plug and there appears to be no way to grip it with a pair of pliers and keep from destroying it. (It is not a typical wing nut style plug.) A allen wrench fit into the recess in the center of the plug, so I used that to gently unlock it. It seemed to work ok.