C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

dizzy (literally) install, did I do this right?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 3, 2011 | 05:43 PM
  #21  
Shark Racer's Avatar
Shark Racer
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
Default

If you set the oil pump correctly and advance the rotor just slightly as 78 silver 78 says, you'll just drop the distributor in and don't have to mess with bumping the starter while pushing down on dist assembly.

I'm sure that a million other people can probably do this bump-the-starter method without issue, but with my luck I'd shred the dist gear or the cam and I'd rather not do that.

I also know that it's obvious whether or not you engaged the oil pump correctly.

When you pull the distributor, nine times out of ten, you screw up the alignment of the oil pump and when you stab the distributor again, you'll end up off a tooth or more. That's why you have to re-align the pump.
Reply
Old Jan 3, 2011 | 05:58 PM
  #22  
wcsinx's Avatar
wcsinx
Thread Starter
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 24,160
Likes: 78
Default

Originally Posted by Shark Racer
If you set the oil pump correctly and advance the rotor just slightly as 78 silver 78 says, you'll just drop the distributor in and don't have to mess with bumping the starter while pushing down on dist assembly.

I'm sure that a million other people can probably do this bump-the-starter method without issue, but with my luck I'd shred the dist gear or the cam and I'd rather not do that.
That method scares me as well. I just put a socket wrench on the balancer bolt and grunt it over.
Reply
Old Jan 3, 2011 | 06:08 PM
  #23  
Birdman's Avatar
Birdman
Safety Car
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,908
Likes: 10
From: Charleston SC
Default

I'm pulling my hair out trying to get my new HEI to do ANYTHING at this point.. I swear I've wired everything up correctly...but am getting nothing. The engine just turns over and over.
Reply
Old Jan 3, 2011 | 06:08 PM
  #24  
Shark Racer's Avatar
Shark Racer
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
Default

Originally Posted by Birdman
I'm pulling my hair out trying to get my new HEI to do ANYTHING at this point.. I swear I've wired everything up correctly...but am getting nothing. The engine just turns over and over.
Are you converting from a car with no HEI or just replacing your old dist?
Reply
Old Jan 3, 2011 | 07:43 PM
  #25  
Birdman's Avatar
Birdman
Safety Car
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,908
Likes: 10
From: Charleston SC
Default

I'm converting.
Reply
Old Jan 3, 2011 | 07:44 PM
  #26  
wcsinx's Avatar
wcsinx
Thread Starter
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 24,160
Likes: 78
Default

Well in the immortal words of Hank Hill

Originally Posted by Hank Hill
Damnit Damnit Damnit


I used the 7 o'clock post for #1 instead of the 5 o'clock and now it's damn near straight. It was my understanding that this was the non-HEI orientation, but I guess this distributor is setup that way anywho?

Oh well, I know it was just an aesthetic thing, but I sure feel better now.

thanks everyone
Reply
Old Jan 4, 2011 | 12:20 AM
  #27  
Fonz69's Avatar
Fonz69
Pro
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 688
Likes: 1
From: Stevens Point WI
Default

Sometimes seeing is better then typing it, hope this helps

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5a2X9mSSlQY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHX1y...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYGU7...eature=related
Reply
Old Jan 4, 2011 | 12:51 AM
  #28  
sly vette's Avatar
sly vette
Safety Car
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,570
Likes: 1
From: Algonac Michigan
Default

Originally Posted by Birdman
I'm pulling my hair out trying to get my new HEI to do ANYTHING at this point.. I swear I've wired everything up correctly...but am getting nothing. The engine just turns over and over.
I'm not trying to be a smart azz but, there have been a few times here where someone has posted a similar statement and the answer was to install the rotor!
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jan 4, 2011 | 02:32 AM
  #29  
snoopykissedlucy's Avatar
snoopykissedlucy
Pro
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 596
Likes: 6
From: Irving Texas
Default

Not that this thread keeps going and going..........
BUT.....I just wanted to add what no one has stated:
The distributer gear is spiraled. Therefore, when everyone says to line up the rotor to #1. In reality, you need to line it up even further to make up for the spiral effect.(The distributor rotates as it goes in)

When you remove the distributor, as it goes up, it is spiralling the pump shaft ever so slightly. This is why most people are scratching their heads when they go to put it back in.
Reply
Old Jan 4, 2011 | 06:01 AM
  #30  
Avette4me's Avatar
Avette4me
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,575
Likes: 1
From: Tuttle OK
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Default

Originally Posted by wcsinx
I don't want to seem ungrateful for any advice given, but the thing about the oil pump is it's incredibly obvious when you haven't engaged it correctly. As I mentioned, the dizzy flange will stand off the surface of the manifold by about 3/8" if it's not engaged correctly. There's really no way for the oil pump to skew the rotor position because you either engage it or not.
The slot of the oil pump drive can rotate - easily. It can turn slightly and while you are seated properly, your #1 can point in some odd directions. That's all I'm saying.
Reply
Old Jan 4, 2011 | 09:49 AM
  #31  
wcsinx's Avatar
wcsinx
Thread Starter
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 24,160
Likes: 78
Default

Originally Posted by Avette4me
The slot of the oil pump drive can rotate - easily. It can turn slightly and while you are seated properly, your #1 can point in some odd directions. That's all I'm saying.
Sorry to disagree, but the rotor orientation should be determined by the cam gear not the oil pump. I can certainly understand how someone might stab and stab and stab the rotor in different orientations trying to line it up with the oil pump, but that's really putting the cart before the horse. The way I did it was to mark the #1 post position on the distributor body and then make another mark 2.25" CCW from that position. Align the rotor with the second mark, then stab it in. Chances are you won't be lined up with the oil pump, BUT you are already meshed with the cam gear so the rotor alignment has been established. At this point just turn over the engine and at some point the dizzy will drop the rest of the way down. Now just reset yourself to 0-12* BTDC and theoretically you will be pointing at post #1.

Bottom line is simply do not let the oil pump shaft position dictate where you stab the dizzy.
Reply
Old Jan 4, 2011 | 11:30 AM
  #32  
Shark Racer's Avatar
Shark Racer
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
Default

Originally Posted by wcsinx
Bottom line is simply do not let the oil pump shaft position dictate where you stab the dizzy.
I do agree with this, the oil pump has no bearing on "where" #1 is, just whether or not you can drop the dist fully.

I still think I'm gonna use the screwdriver method. Maybe I'll try the other one when I'm feeling a bit more adventurous...
Reply
Old Jan 4, 2011 | 02:33 PM
  #33  
KTKelly's Avatar
KTKelly
Burning Brakes
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,042
Likes: 1
From: Greensboro NC
Default

Originally Posted by wcsinx
Did you ever verify with a light what your timing was? Wouldn't that give you a ton of retard?

Yup, I got a ton of retard...

At least that's what the wife says.....



Checked the timing after everything was buttoned up, adjusted the timing "by ear", lo and behold I was amazed to find I was close to perfection.....
Reply
Old Jan 4, 2011 | 06:39 PM
  #34  
Avette4me's Avatar
Avette4me
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,575
Likes: 1
From: Tuttle OK
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Default

Originally Posted by wcsinx
Sorry to disagree, but the rotor orientation should be determined by the cam gear not the oil pump. I can certainly understand how someone might stab and stab and stab the rotor in different orientations trying to line it up with the oil pump, but that's really putting the cart before the horse. The way I did it was to mark the #1 post position on the distributor body and then make another mark 2.25" CCW from that position. Align the rotor with the second mark, then stab it in. Chances are you won't be lined up with the oil pump, BUT you are already meshed with the cam gear so the rotor alignment has been established. At this point just turn over the engine and at some point the dizzy will drop the rest of the way down. Now just reset yourself to 0-12* BTDC and theoretically you will be pointing at post #1.

Bottom line is simply do not let the oil pump shaft position dictate where you stab the dizzy.
No problem here with someone disagreeing. I just do things a bit different than you I suppose.

I generally set TDC before removing the distributor, make my marks, then pull it. If the pump twisted on me a bit, I use a long screwdriver to get it right and drop the distributer. Most of the time, my timing is damn close before fine tuning. I just prefer not to turn it over with stuff capable of flopping around.

Bottom line is both methods work.
Reply




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:22 AM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE