can it be done? i got my engien out, and i was gonna put it back in today, but i went to put my distributor on there and it wouldn't fit, it was interferring with the back upright of my new HSR intake...my question is, can i continue as planned and install the motor, then just slide the distributor in later after i get a new one?? is there enough clearance?

 

im of no help on this one but thats definitly a good concern to have. When changing the dist cap theres barely enough room to even get a screw driver in there because of that lip at the top of the firewall. Then again id like to think that if you needed a new distributor you could change them without having to pull the motor.

 

Yes you can, I pulled mine out to get to the top two tranny bolts easier.

 

are you serious...you have a camaro right? so I can continue as planned and throw the engine in tomorrow...

 

did the distributor come straight out, or did you have to tip it forward? because i'm afraid if you have to tip it forward it might not go in with my new HSR intake...but i'm also going to have to switch to a small cap type distributor so that will give me more clearance...i just want to make sure it'll go in with the motor in, instead of putting the motor in and finding out it won't go in...

 

I have an 83 Camaro with a 355 with an edelbrock performar intake, i'm not familiar (sp) with your intake. Yes I did need to tip it forward a little bit to get it out. I can't imagine a intake manufacturer making an intake that you can't change distributors.

 

yes this can be done, i had to tip mine forward a little. the hardest part i found was tightening the dang thing back down. if i was smart i would have bought a distributor hold-down bolt wrench. (not sure thats what its called, lol. sears has them) i just registered and first thing i saw i knew something about. good luck.

 

I believe you have a large cap distributor since your car is a 86. I also believe that the large car dizzy wont work woth the HSR so you will need to convert over to the small cap HEI with the remote coil. I dont have a HSR but from looking at pics of them there isnt room for a big cap HEI.

 

Definately no room for a large cap distributor with an HSR. Small cap is a must, even Holley says so in the instructions. BTW, mine slides right in, but then again the motor is in an S10.

 

yes i realize i need a small cap distributor...i'm working with a few guys in getting me one, but I'm planning on putting in the motor today, and my main concern is getting the small cap dist. in when it gets here in like a week or so...but i'll put it in with the upper plenum of the HSR intake off. so you guys are possitive that the new dist. will just slide right in when it gets here?

 

if the plenum is off it will definitely just slide right in

 

Yup. As long as the top plenum is off the motor you'll be able to wiggle it in there.