Re: [DML] Re: Online pictiorial procedures for regular maint.

[Peter Lucas <lucas@xxxx>]

On Saturday, June 7, 2003, at 03:00 PM, therealdmcvegas wrote:

> Nah, you don't need to disconnect a single fuel line to reach the
> distributor on the back.

> <SNIP>

I'm sure this statement is correct. I bet you could even do it 
blindfolded if you enjoyed the challenge :-).

But, I have to say that once you've removed the air casing/fuel 
distributor assembly once or twice, you come to realize that it really 
is a fairly trivial operation that doesn't take long at all. IMO it is 
far easier to get it out of the way than to struggle with a 
barely-possible procedure.

One thing to note is that you don't have to remove all the fuel hoses. 
If you just remove the ones that originate on the right side of the 
engine (only about 6 or 7, I think), you can gently fold the assembly 
to the left out of the way without removing the rest (thanks to Rob 
Grady for pointing this out). Removing the idle motor is the hardest 
part, and you have to do that anyway to access the spark plug 
underneath.

Have you ever spent half an hour lying on your back under a car 
struggling with some procedure to save 2 minutes effort to crawl out 
and get the right tool? Overcoming that tendency was the most 
important single mechanic's skill that I have ever acquired. I think 
that servicing the distributor blind is in the same category.

All a matter of taste, I suppose.

--Pete Lucas
VIN #06703