timing question, rotor orientation...
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,714
Likes: 42
From: Austin Texas
timing question, rotor orientation...
I have read many of the articles on here but still have a question for you.
I am timing the engine, I have tdc and dropped the distributor in. the rotor is pointing towards the back of the motor. My question is this,
Does it matter which “direction” the rotor is pointing as long as I point it directly at the #1 post and run the wires clockwise in the firing order?
Some say point to front of engine, some say doesn’t matter.
thanks
I am timing the engine, I have tdc and dropped the distributor in. the rotor is pointing towards the back of the motor. My question is this,
Does it matter which “direction” the rotor is pointing as long as I point it directly at the #1 post and run the wires clockwise in the firing order?
Some say point to front of engine, some say doesn’t matter.
thanks
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,668
Likes: 43
From: Eastern US XX
Originally Posted by johnt365
I have read many of the articles on here but still have a question for you.
I am timing the engine, I have tdc and dropped the distributor in. the rotor is pointing towards the back of the motor. My question is this,
Does it matter which “direction” the rotor is pointing as long as I point it directly at the #1 post and run the wires clockwise in the firing order?
Some say point to front of engine, some say doesn’t matter.
thanks
I am timing the engine, I have tdc and dropped the distributor in. the rotor is pointing towards the back of the motor. My question is this,
Does it matter which “direction” the rotor is pointing as long as I point it directly at the #1 post and run the wires clockwise in the firing order?
Some say point to front of engine, some say doesn’t matter.
thanks
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,714
Likes: 42
From: Austin Texas
i thought that was if the crank was set to the exhaust stroke instead of the compression stroke. i dont want to start a fire...
ok, so its a wire routing concern more than a timing concern...
ok, so its a wire routing concern more than a timing concern...
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,376
Likes: 6,375
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
You can make any post on the distributor cap your #1 post by pointing the rotor to that post when #1 is at TDC on compression stroke. As you state, just run the wires in the right firing order from that point and the engine can be timed and it will run just fine - no problem.
But why would you want to do this? Why not just install it correctly and put #1 where it's "supposed" to be?
But why would you want to do this? Why not just install it correctly and put #1 where it's "supposed" to be?
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,254
Likes: 1
From: Edinburgh
Lars has written a paper on this, you can find it here in Corvette faq, http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/HowToSetTiming2.doc
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Race Director
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From: Living in the Hartland
Originally Posted by johnt365
that is my real question then, where is it supposed to be pointing?
thank you!
thank you!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,376
Likes: 6,375
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Originally Posted by johnt365
that is my real question then, where is it supposed to be pointing?
thank you!
thank you!
Is this an HEI or a points-type distributor? The #1 tower is different on the two...
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,714
Likes: 42
From: Austin Texas
converted to HEI.
still confused. it will run as long as its timed correct but there is a certain post that #1 is to be
i will read the article. im one of those guys that needs to know how and why it works like that.
still confused. it will run as long as its timed correct but there is a certain post that #1 is to be
i will read the article. im one of those guys that needs to know how and why it works like that.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,376
Likes: 6,375
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
It's all a matter of how you drop the dstributor in: If the engine is set up so that #1 is at TDC on the compression stroke, you can drop the distributor into the block in any orientation: wherever the rotor happens to point, you can make that tower the #1 tower and correctly time the engine.
But if you want to install an HEI "correctly", the distributor body should be installed so that the ignition coil is "square" in the engine compartment with the wire harness connector straight out on the driver's side of the distributor. With the distributor installed "square" in the engine compartment like this, the #1 plug tower is the forward driver's side tower. The rotor should point directly to this tower with the engine #1 at TDC on the compression stroke.
But if you want to install an HEI "correctly", the distributor body should be installed so that the ignition coil is "square" in the engine compartment with the wire harness connector straight out on the driver's side of the distributor. With the distributor installed "square" in the engine compartment like this, the #1 plug tower is the forward driver's side tower. The rotor should point directly to this tower with the engine #1 at TDC on the compression stroke.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,532
Likes: 4
From: Fairview Heights Illinois, near Saint Louis MO, STL C3 Shark
Originally Posted by lars
John -
Is this an HEI or a points-type distributor? The #1 tower is different on the two...
Is this an HEI or a points-type distributor? The #1 tower is different on the two...