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After getting the shop closed up last month until my next visit, something occurred to me after it was to lat to try that might help in removing the distributor. That is to use a couple bolts and nuts on either side that can act as jacks to push it up as the nuts are turned. Between now and my next trip up, it would really help if someone could tell me how much space there is between the bottom of the distributor and the block. Can someone measure for me?

Since my distributor is Autolite, does that mean that the voltage regulator is also Autolite or did Packard sometimes mix and match?

The cars were not mix and match so all electrical components -- starter, gen, dist, volt regulator -- were one or the other. Which brand was used was generally separated by line or whether a junior or senior car. In 56 Delco was used on senior or Packard models (except Executive) and Autolite was on the lower line Clipper cars.

Thank you, Howard! That’s what I suspected but I wasn’t sure so great to get conformation.

Point of clarification on electrical equipment. Effective March 5, 1956, Delco equipment was introduced in production for all 5640-60-70 (Clipper and Executive), due to an engine detonation problem - per STB 56T-14. While updated parts were available for the Delco distributor on senior cars, that was not yet the case with Autolite.

However, ALL electricals, that is starting, charging and ignition, on my Dad's Exec, which was delivered in April, were Delco. This supports that the factory did not play mix-and-match.

Yet, since the parts book shows Delco equipment available for ALL 56th (in addition to Autolite for 5640-60-70), I have to wonder how many mistakes might have been made by partsmen when it came to replacing assemblies.

Hi Don...I wonder if a private message to Ross Miller might help you figure out what is holding the distrbutor. Ross might well have had the same problem at some point...Just a humble thought...Ernie in Arizona

Thank you, Ernie! I did that very thing but with Jack Vines who is another Packard V8 specialist. Unfortunately he had no special tricks but I am going to the shop late in February and will try making some jacks using bolts and nuts under opposite sides to give it more direct upward force. That failing, I’ll have to remove the valley cover and maybe the pan to see what’s stuck.

Try rotating distributor back-n-forth, while pulling up on it. Give it a squirt of motor oil where it enters the block. Work it some more. Sometimes they get a little corroded and dry down there.

Rotationally it’s totally free and I have already tried pulling while rotating although access is currently somewhat limited. I even tried prying it up with a 3’ pry bar but it doesn’t budge.

Does anyone know the distance between the bottom of the distributor and the top of the block? Knowing that, I can make sure I have some threaded studs that are long enough to try the jack method that I mentioned earlier.

" I even tried prying it up with a 3’ pry bar but it doesn’t budge."
Then try a 6 foot bar, it's just stuck.