I pulled out the distributor to change a few things but forgot to mark the location of the original position. Whats the best way to get the timing back to position? All it does is turn over or backfire. I've tried rotating it and changing the wires. Bubba way of doing it I know. Any info would help. Thanks

 

What dist? R U using HEI or a points dist? Do you know how to get TDC at #1? If so you are halfway there. Tell us what dist you are using.

 

I did the same thing a long time ago it was a pita to put it back without getting backfires

 

Tell us what you've got and leave the rest to the Forum brothers and sisters.

 

before you remove the distributor bump the engine till the rotor tip points to exactly the 12:00 oclock position because you will never have a any problem getting it in correctly

 

remove #1 plug,place you finger over the plug hole,spin the engine over,when you feel compression align the TDC mark on the damper with the 10 degrees BTC on the timing tab and install the distributor with the rotor tip pointing at #1 plug wire terminal on the cap. you can set the cap on the distributor and mark the distributor housing with a magic marker the location of the # 1 plug wire. you may have to use a long screwdriver to rotate the oil pump drive to get the distributor to drop all the way into the engine.

 

points for now

 

and no I don't know how to get the TDC at #1

 

I did this exactly after recamming my 406 and one blip of the key and it was running.

 

Like Clem said about finding TDC. Or, if the valve covers are off, watch the timing mark. If it shows "0" and both valves are closed (the rockers are loose) on number 1, then you are there. If one of the valves is OPEN when you show zero on the timing mark, you are not on the compression stroke and need to rotate the engine again.

Once the engine is sitting at TDC compression stroke of #1, then it's all down hill from there and the job gets easy. First, on a points distributor, remember that #1 is supposed to be the first plug wire LEFT of the points window. OK? R U with me here? Firing order is 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 and it goes clockwise from that #1 wire jsut to left of the points window.

Since the dist rotates clockwise, when you insert it the gears will cause rotation in that direction. Place the distributor in, but with the rotor a notch or so counterclockwise of where you need #1 to be. When the dist finally goes all the way down, it will spin the rotor clockwise and it will be in the right place. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE GASKET AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DIST!!!

Now, if you get the dist in, and it won't go all the way down but you know it's meshing with the camshaft gear, bump the motor. Don't worry about turning the oil pump shaft with a screwdriver and dropping it down the hole! Just bump the motor over a click at a time until the dist drops all the way in. Because the gears are already in place, the timing is set, and you won't get anything out of kilter. Bumping the motor over 1/4 turn at a time will be very easy either from the starter switch, or the balancer bolt.

When it's in all the way and the gasket is in place, do NOT crank it over until you put the dist HOLD DOWN braket in place!! It can and should be loose enough to be able to turn the dist, but without it, the dist will pop right UP OUTTA THE HOLE and you will need to start all over again.

 

 

Also on setting the point gap: Get the motor running, timing set. OK so far ...

Put a 1/4 inch allen tool into the points window. Your desired dwell is 30 degrees. But here's a trick requiring NO METER for dwell:

With engine idling, rotate the Allen wrench CLOCKWISE a bit at a time, until the engine dies, or misfires (which ever comes first!). Then back the tool off, a half turn exactly, counterclockwise. Your dwell is set.

I learned this while working for Chevy as a tune up tech wayyyyyy back then. I've tested it on a LOT of cars, using G.M. distributors and it's always been within a degree of 30* dwell. It really works!

Sorry to be so long winded but you seem to be having trouble with something that I have done repeatedly for 25 years on SBC motors and I figured I would spell it out as well as I could. Good Luck.

 

Thanks sounds pretty easy except my msd cap doesn't have a window to set the dwelling. How do you deal with that?

 

the dwell can be set with the cap off just by spinning the engine over on the starter and using a good dwell meter.

 

Thanks cars running just needs the small tunning. Great advice

 

Thanks, that did it.

 

Aaahhh. Another CF success story.