Help me plan: My first intake swap ... EVER.

No need to pull the distributor, but you will have much more room having the distributor,wires, out of the way.

Put your motor at tdc (top dead center).
With the cap off, the rotor should be facing the no.1 cylinder.
Unbolt the distributor hold down, and pull out distributor.
Simple stuff.

smallblock (1).jpg