Alright Gentlemen, Here's how to replace *MOST* of your distributor,
I did this with my truck today, and now it runs LIKE a charm!
With only a phillips and a flathead (optional) screwdriver.
No wrenches,
No need to worry about timing, or meshing gears, or anything like that
No spark plug removal
No need to move the engine to top dead center even.
What you will need is a distributor cap, and rotor (scrap or new)
Lets Begin...
First, Make note of the orientation of your distributor cap. There should be a plastic bump on the top of the cap near the spark wire for cyl 1
then, unplug all the spark plug wires and the wire to the coil. Don't unplug the wires from the distributor cap just yet. keep them where they are.
Then, remove the distributor cap, and look to the rotor. Make a mark with a sharpie pen on the white plastic part of the rotor, which indicates where the contact wiper is.