hey guys i got a 1997 dodge 1500 with the 5.2 318. i want to change out my distributor cap, rotor, plug wires, and plugs. now i was looking at my motor and the distributor is directly behind it. i cannot figure out a way to access it to change it out or to even hook up new wires, its just too far back there and i cannot even see the entire thing just the edge and the top of a couple plug wires. and i can only see 1 of the 2 bolts you need to take out in order to replace the cap...any ideas or suggestions? thanks guys

 

Remove the air intake and lay a piece of plywood over the engine. Lay on that to get to everything back there. PITA isn't it? lol

 

even if i took the intake off i still don't see how i would be able to reach it haha. have you done this yourself? i guess ill have to give it a shot, pain in the *** is right haha

 

ive done it myself. it aint too bad if you take the air filter housing off. Remember- take one plug wire at a time. when i did mine, the philips screws rounded out. Not to worry, the screw heads are also 9/32 for a socket with extention. while youre in there, do the cap and the rotor as well. simple, took me about 30 min. i think i had my knees up on the bumper. good luck!

 

yeah i had planned on doing the cap, rotor, plugs, and wires....how was doing the rotor? ive never done one and just by looking at the part it looks kinda iffy haha once you replaced everything did it make a difference in the way the motor ran?

 

yeah im glad i did. i was chasing after a random misfire, which was actually coming from a bad fuel pump. but when i saw the underside of the cap and the condition of the rotor, i was glad i did. the rotor slides on easy, it has a channel so you know you put it on the right way. all of my terminals on the cap were black and corroded... im surprised it had spark to begin with

 

I put a 1x4 board across the top of my radiator to put my knees on when I did my tune up on my 99 5.9L, the guys are right you have to remove your air cleaner box.

https://www.dropbox.com/sc/fwckngakdkhrdol/BWHrgbbEfY

I also pulled all the plugs, wires, cap (kept wires on cap) and rotor off before putting on the new parts. I took a sharpie and wrote the cylinder numbers on the distributor cap before installing it and the rotor. It actually made the job go smoothly if you TAKE YOUR TIME. I also took pieces of masking tape and labeled each new wire when I measured it up to the old plug wire. Also get rid of those nasty old heat shields with pliers.

 

Don't forget to take a look at TSB 18-48-98 for updated spark/coil wire routing info:
http://dodgeram.info/tsb/1998/18-48-98/18-48-98-v8.htm