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So I needed to remove and replace my manifold, carb, and distributor this spring. I've done this before but it's been awhile and I don't want the first start up to include backfire up the carb - I want to get the ignition timing as close as possible.
I will rotate the engine (clock wise looking down on the distributor) with #1 spark plug removed. Once I hear the compression I will put in a piston stop and rotate the engine to the stop. At this point, the distributor should be pointing to the #1 plug wire, and if not I need to
correct this at the distributor. I want to have the #1 spark plug wire on the distributor in the factory location, so I think I can get the distributor end right.
So if I am pointing at the #1 spark plug wire and the engine is rotated until it hits the piston stop on the #1 cylinder, I should be in decent shape, correct?
Place vib dampener at the proper line showing the adv spec mark per manual.
loosen dist hold down bolt so dist can be freely turned.
unplug coil wire and loosely place in position so you can see/hear the spark.
turn dist clockwise, past number one, then slowly turn dist counter clockwise slowly until you hear/see the coil wire spark.
AT this point, timing is set.
Snug dist hold down.
It maybe best to first index the distributor so that the tach drive cable does no have any tight bends in it. It will las much longer.
Then follow member's advice.
So I got the balancer timing slot lined up at TDC - it was right about where the piston stop stopped the CW rotation of the engine on the #1 spark plug hole.
So far so good. However, it appears my distributor is pointed at the #1 wire at about the 8:00 location (looking down on the engine). This looks a bit off
to me from the standard Chevy factory placement which looks to be about 6:30 or 7 location. Didn't have much luck trying to pick up the distributor and walk
it over a tooth at a time to put it in the standard location.
from where it is now, pull dist and put it at about 5;30. then crank motor while holding down on distributor. you will feel the pump drive line up and it will drop in. now crank it around again to about 6;30 and see where timing mark sets up. as doorgunner was saying, do not worry about where the vacuum can points. set dist up so tach cable has straightest run to it's mount point.
So after re-reading Lars Grimsrud's "How to Install your Chevy Distributor' I set the timing mark to the 8 degree BTDC. Then I used a screwdriver to spin the oil pump shaft into position to install the distributor in a way where the rotor points at the #1
at about 6:30 position. Thanks to all for your help!
,,,,You got it,,,,
Just Checking
