Found an online retailer of the one and only slant-6 distributor wrench, the Vim V-103. This allows easy distributor adjustments via not only the accessible bolt just ahead of the distributor, but also the inaccessible underside bolt that holds the hold-down plate to the distributor body. Source is Here, and the wrench looks like this:

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Ive had no trouble (thank god I dont need another tool) using just a shallow socket on a 12" extention. Are the bolts different on an older slant?

You cannot reach the underside bolt by that method, which means if you run out of adjustment at the hold down plate slot, you have to pull the distributor out of the engine

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

I I know what you mean by hitting the plate but I manged to dial in my 12btdc and the side hits damn close If timing specs are different then you might not be so lucky

It's a question of what initial timing you're trying to achive and where in its "travel" the distributor hold-down plate is attached to the distributor body. There's actually a much longer adjustment slot at the point where the plate attaches to the distributor, than there is at the point where the plate attaches to the block.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Great source! Thanks

I must be lucky. I can get at the bolt with just a plain old 7/16" wrench.

Yeah I was removing the distributer in the first place and when installing it I offset it a gear or two to the right so I would have more 'play' and would clear the side of the dist. for the initial timing. but yes, and I agree, that in normal situations, they make it so that, just at where you want the timing to be, it hits the distributer.

H'mm...if I had to guess, I'd say it might be possible to reach the underside bolt with a plain 7/16" wrench if:

•your slant-6 is in a truck, and
•you have a remote-mount oil filter.

Otherwise...you cannot reach the underside bolt with a regular wrench.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Oil filter does not get in the way. The frame rail does, making it necessary to remove the wrench and re-set once to get the bolt loose (or tight) enough.

Edit: Re-reading what I posted, the wrench is limited between the oil filter and frame rail. Either way, I have enough room to get at the distributor bolt with a regular wrench, about 6" long.

Trucks rule

You know, if your distributor has the older style hold-down clamp then it doesn't even have this troublesome bolt requiring the special wrench. I have always just swapped the hold-down clamp to the older style and been able to sping the dist 360 degrees (or at least at far as it will turn without the vacuum pod itting the block or something).

Nice find, Dan!

If you don´t need one, just don´t buy one!

Ahh. There is the source of my confusion. My dist, has the "fork & collar" type clamp Reed describes...though it was what came stock on my '87 slant, it is not an older item I swapped on (Well, I swapped it over from my original lean burn dist to my standard EI dist)

Sorry Dan.

Thanks Dan,

Been looking for a 7/16" for a little bit.

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Thats what we're all here for, to find alternatives,It doesn't hurt to find ways to do something with basic tools whether its more difficult or not. For alot of guys out there don't even have a timing light or basic tuneup equipment, Its prudent advice that they get those items first and make do without specialized equiptment for now.
Relax, nobodys making arguements here . Dan is a big boy I sure we're not insulting him or anything