I'm a fan! Scotty for President! 1979 Thunderbird w/351W or M, 28K miles (sat around alot). I know squat about engines. Mechanic is trying to get the engine to run smoothly. After complete tune-up w/rebuilt factory 2BB carb. and then some adjustments, it still isn't quite right. Distributor needs to be rotated (timing adjustment needed, he says), but is frozen. After trying unsuccessfully every way he can think of, he says he has to remove the manifolds in order to unfreeze it/get it out. 5 hours labor plus parts including manifold maintenance, whatever that is. Is this reasonable? Will it work? Its one of a very small number of factory-authorized convertibles, so its a pretty rare car in otherwise great shape. What should I do? TIA
I have yet to run across one that would not respond to some combination of penetrating oil, heat, and tapping to free it up.
I removed a stuck distributor from this car once I Started the car let it heat up once it's good and warm hit the distributor on it's sides to get it to turn. Some people use brass rod and a mallet other use just a mallet. I used a mallet, a piece of wood and a brass punch. I wrapped them in a dish towel. The key is heat that is the only way to free it up when it's seized. Honestly I'm not to familiar with these motors but something sounds fishy to me. I think the mechanic is trying to rip you off. I could be wrong since I have very little knowledge with this car.
