328 Distributor Cap Removal Question

I need to remove one of the coil wires on my 328 as I have lost ignition to the front bank of cylinders. All troubleshooting has led to everything downstream of the coil (i.e. I get spark when a spare plug and coil wire are attached to the coil).

I am therefore suspecting a bad coil wire, rotor or distributor cap issue...

My concern is that I am now entering into uncharted territory for my skillsets. Are there any surprises lurking upon removing the 3 bolts that hold the distributor cap on? Anything I should be especially concerned or aware of?

I noticed the cap has a gasket between the cap and the head... Will I need to replace this or should it be OK to re-install?

Thanks... I look forward to continue getting my hands dirty before deciding to transport to the dealer....

Best Regards,

Kevin

 

If your caps are the same as a 308QV, there are no surprises . Just loosen the 3 8mm bolts and remove the cap. I didn't even have gaskets on my caps and there was no problem. You can always buy one or make one from gasket material if you insist upon replacing it. Once you get the cap off, check the rotor and contacts in the cap.
To remove the coil wire, first gently pull the center carbon contact and its attached spring out of the center of the cap. Then, with the right-sized screwdriver, unscrew the attaching screw and pull the coil wire out. Be sure you have an exact fit screwdriver or the brass screw can strip.
When you put a new coil wire in, make sure it is pushed all the way into the hole before tightening the screw to insure a solid contact.
This is accurate info for a 308 and I believe that your distributer set-up is the same--but I may be wrong.