Dist. removal 72 K20 402

[grunt67]

I was told that I had to pull the motor to change my Dist. in my 72 K20 pick up truck, any help on this ?

[70cst]

Bump

[trac209]

Umm no. Is this a joke?

[jocko]

grunt, a 402 is not the stock motor in a K20, in fact, they never came with big blocks - but my gut feeling us absolutely yes. Perhaps someone who has done this swap can let you know for certain. Curious if yours is an original big block 2WD truck on a K chassis or a 402 swap into an original K20? (if your VIN starts with CC, it was originally a 2WD truck and - if CK, it was originally a 4WD truck). And welcome to the site!

[grunt67]

My son bought this 72 K20, I had thoughts that the motor was not stock, or it was made into a 4X4, I will look at vin # and see what that says, thank you for the interesting information . It is pinging so bad I told not to drive it, it also has a MSD 6A with a 600 Edelbrock carb, trying to solve the bad pinging ,tried setting the timming back , but did not help. Have a lot of looking into to do.
Thank you so much for your help.
Grunt

[72Cheyenne454]

I've had a few 71-72 K20's that I've installed big blocks in using the small block mounts. In this location, I was able to remove the HEI dist without pulling the engine.

[i82much]

I have a 72 with a 396. I had to grind the heck out of the wire channell on my firewall to get my msd distributor in, but the old points distributor came out easy. The rotor in the msd distributor sits a lot higher so I just ground down that channel.

[un4gvn!]

I have a 454 in mine with MSD ignition (6AL, dist, coil). If you take off the cap and rotor, it will come out. Mine wouldn't go in or come out unless I took these parts off first.

[57taskforce]

Originally Posted by grunt67

My son bought this 72 K20, I had thoughts that the motor was not stock, or it was made into a 4X4, I will look at vin # and see what that says, thank you for the interesting information . It is pinging so bad I told not to drive it, it also has a MSD 6A with a 600 Edelbrock carb, trying to solve the bad pinging ,tried setting the timming back , but did not help. Have a lot of looking into to do.
Thank you so much for your help.
Grunt

You might try running a higher octane fuel if you running 86 or 87 in it. If it's got high compression this could be your problem

[grunt67]

Here is what I found out, the WA. State Vin is a rebuild Vin # VTR04987, (from the title) can not find any vin tag except an Idaho vin tag. on the firewall ? I'm told that the 402 was out of a Monty Carlo, rebuilt 400 Hyd. Automatic, newer style transfer case. Dana 60 rear, Dana 44 front.
This whole thing is very frustrating, in order to get parts Suburban parts fit better. The guy we bought the truck from said that 2 trucks were used to rebuild this truck. Very nice truck, except for the hard pinging , I also ordered a stock 11 inch brake booster as I think it has a vacuum leak, when I step on brake pedal rpms go up 200 ??? I did check the manifold, no leaks, carb, no leaks ? Sometimes the rpm's go up at a stop with foot on the brake and the truck tries to move forward. ??? Lots of things to work out, I told my son he should have just bought a new truck, but he wanted the 72, but what do I know at 70 years old, lol
Thanks for all the input guys.
PS: My son put higher octane in today did help some?

[grunt67]

Originally Posted by un4gvn!

I have a 454 in mine with MSD ignition (6AL, dist, coil). If you take off the cap and rotor, it will come out. Mine wouldn't go in or come out unless I took these parts off first.

That is the same set up on this 402, I will give it a try, need to spin that Dist, to make sure it is not the problem, THANK YOU

[demian5]

Originally Posted by grunt67

I was told that I had to pull the motor to change my Dist. in my 72 K20 pick up truck, any help on this ?

Take cap and rotor off first.

[RustyBucket]

Didn't see what distributor is in the truck.... but the flyweight advance could be sticky/rusty causing it to spark knock.......... if you can ever get the dist. out you can see about it

[grunt67]

Never thought of that, thank you, will check that out.

[67 chevelle]

retard the timing , and add fuel either a quadrajet or 750 holley , lean conditions can cause pinning also and IMO a 600 is not enough fuel for a 402

[grunt67]

Picked up a 680 Quick Fuel Holly , going to try that, local speed shop said that will work on a stock 402 better than the 600 Edelbrock , redo timing . also going to try and pull dist. and have it checked out.
Thank You

I FOUND THE VIN TAG ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR JAM : CCE142S1411771, ON THE BLOCK PASS. SIDE NEXT TO THE HEAD WAS STAMPED -T402TBJ BEEN TRYING ON GOOGLE WITH NO LUCK ON THESE NUMBERS....................HELP !!