#1 Plug at 8 O'Clock Position
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 745
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From: Hutto Texas
#1 Plug at 8 O'Clock Position
On my '81 Vette the #1 plug is plugged in at the 8 o'clock Position on the distributor. On all my Chevy cars in the past, both carb'd and EFI the #1 was always at the 5 o'clock position aka pointing towards the #1 cylinder. I am assuming this was done because the dist. was not dropped in with the rotor pointed to #1 by the previous owner. I am going to be doing a full tune up on the car soon and was wondering it would be okay if I re-dropped the dist., moved the #1 wire to the 5 o'clock position and follow the firing order around? Anyone else run in to this?
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
The distributor doesn't really care where #1 is. As long as #1 fires when the dizzy is at #1, you're good to go.
Some of the wire routing on the HEI units accomodates the fit of the ignition shielding.
Some of the wire routing on the HEI units accomodates the fit of the ignition shielding.
Last edited by Easy Mike; Oct 27, 2010 at 03:52 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
For a "correct" installation, the HEI distributors were installed in the engine with the distributor's top plate and coil "square" in the engine compartment. In this orientation, the #1 plug wire was always installed at the forward, driver's side position in the cap (5 o'clock as viewed from the front).
The Chevy points-style distributors (1974 and earlier) always had the #1 plug wire installed in the forward passenger side tower (7 o'clock as viewed from the front).
Lars
The Chevy points-style distributors (1974 and earlier) always had the #1 plug wire installed in the forward passenger side tower (7 o'clock as viewed from the front).
Lars
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 745
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From: Hutto Texas
Very interesting info. I just don't like it not being correct. I will check to see if the current routing is for the benefit of the ignition shielding. If I not I will be re-stabbing it in a few weeks. Thank you for all the information everyone.
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Team Owner
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From: Crossville TN
Often, the reason for 'shifting' the plug wires is so that the vacuum advace can will be pointing directly to the right side of the car (for convenience of access) and availability to the dwell adjustment 'window'...while still having adequate timing adjustment movement for the distributor. As long as you are doing all the work on it, you can put it wherever you like. But if you do something "creative" and then take it to someone else for work, you'd better label your changes very clearly.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 263
Likes: 0
From: bethpage NY
my #1 wire was 6'' to long 
but really there was no reason it just kinda happened to be there when i dropped it in there is there any reason i should move it to the 5 o'clock position or should i just leave it and label them?? it was a pain being my first dist. to get it lined up properly with the gear and all 
but really there was no reason it just kinda happened to be there when i dropped it in there is there any reason i should move it to the 5 o'clock position or should i just leave it and label them?? it was a pain being my first dist. to get it lined up properly with the gear and all
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,084
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From: Airdrie Alberta
Often, the reason for 'shifting' the plug wires is so that the vacuum advace can will be pointing directly to the right side of the car (for convenience of access) and availability to the dwell adjustment 'window'...while still having adequate timing adjustment movement for the distributor. As long as you are doing all the work on it, you can put it wherever you like. But if you do something "creative" and then take it to someone else for work, you'd better label your changes very clearly.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,373
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From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
My "Distributor Installation" paper has photos of the correct installed configuration of the points-type distributors, including the GM Service Bulletin that re-clocks the distributor for the tach drive cable problem. For copy of the info, just e-mail a request.
Lars
V8FastCars@msn.com
Lars
V8FastCars@msn.com
