I just installed my distributor after having been rebuilt . Also replaced and adjusted rocker arms. I was careful to place the distributor in its original position, however, the car sounds terrible (major miss). I placed the motor in TDC on #1 firing and readjusted the distributor rotor directly under the #1 plug tower. It is possible that I'm one (or two) gears off on the distributor position but I'm not sure. Any help with the following would be appreciated:

1. When at TDC in #1 firing position, should the rotor be directly under the #1 plug tower on the cap or slightly before/after? The rotor turns clockwise and the next firing position on the distributor is #8.

2. What's a good method to approxiate the timing for a baseline. Right now it will barely run. The spec timing is 8 degrees BTDC. If I move the timing mark to 8 degrees BTDC should I then align the distributor rotor to directly under the #1 plug tower on the cap?

thanks for your help.

 

The key point to remember with the exact timing for the charge of a given cylinder is that its not so much exactly where the rotor is in relation to the terminal inside the cap. The charge is fired when either, on a points dist when the points actually open. On electronic dist is when the magnetic pickups pass each other. The rotor could be here or there. The charge gets fired by the points or pickup. On a points dist, one way to estimate timing is to first turn the crank to, in yur case, 8 degrees BTDC #1 cyl. Connect a points resistance meter to the dist. Turn the key on and rotate the dist first clockwise back to get the points to close. Then slowly rotate the dist counter clockwise and watch the meter. The momment the points open, the needle on the meter will indicate. Snug up the hold down bolt enough to keep the dist from moving on its own, but not so tight you cant move it with your hand. Then proceed with the timing light connected and the engine running. When setting initial timing its important to have the engine idleing low enough so as not to be getting any advance from the weights in the dist. This method will bring you close to a good start. It is important to have the dist set in correctly. A tooth off and you may not be able to rotate it far enough to compensate. Im not sure if this method works for magnetic pickup(electronic) ignitions.