Distributor help :rolleyes:
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,809
Likes: 0
Distributor help please!
I messed up and put my distributor on not lined up correct. Any easy ways to fix?
I'm looking in the Haynes manual and not exactly sure what they mean. It says; feel for compression pressure at the number one plug hole as the crankshaft is turned. Once compression is felt, align the ignition timing zero mark with the pointer. (what is the ignition timing zero mark?) :confused:
[Modified by Tominator, 11:54 AM 5/12/2002]
I'm looking in the Haynes manual and not exactly sure what they mean. It says; feel for compression pressure at the number one plug hole as the crankshaft is turned. Once compression is felt, align the ignition timing zero mark with the pointer. (what is the ignition timing zero mark?) :confused:
[Modified by Tominator, 11:54 AM 5/12/2002]
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,825
Likes: 56
From: Shawano WI
Re: Distributor help please! (Tominator)
Your balancer has a line on it at TDC. Your timing pointer has makes on it from usually 12º BTD to 8º ATD including a 0º mark. Align the mark on your balancer to the 0º mark on the pointer and set the distributor so the rotor points to the #1 cylinder post on the cap.
[Modified by Pete79L82, 12:12 PM 5/12/2002]
[Modified by Pete79L82, 12:12 PM 5/12/2002]
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,825
Likes: 56
From: Shawano WI
Re: Distributor help please! (Tominator)
Pull out the #1 plug and have someone bump the starter while you hold your finger over the hole. When you start to feel compression then start to watch for the timing mark.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,809
Likes: 0
Re: Distributor help please! (Pete79L82)
First of all thanks for the help :)
I put my finger in the # 1 spark plug hole and the compression pushed my finger out kind of scared me ;). Anyway, the timing mark was around 8 degrees before TDC and the rotor cap was past the # 1 wire so I guess it's not right.
So if I'm understanding correctly, once I feel pressure (with turning the key)take and zero the timing marks up (with a wrench), have the rotor point to the # 1 spark plug wire.
I put my finger in the # 1 spark plug hole and the compression pushed my finger out kind of scared me ;). Anyway, the timing mark was around 8 degrees before TDC and the rotor cap was past the # 1 wire so I guess it's not right.
So if I'm understanding correctly, once I feel pressure (with turning the key)take and zero the timing marks up (with a wrench), have the rotor point to the # 1 spark plug wire.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,322
Likes: 1
From: Living in the Hartland
Re: Distributor help please! (Tominator)
Try taking the valve cover off and crank or turn the engine till you see the second rocker arm (intake for the #1 piston) to go down and start to come up once you see it coming watch for the balancer to rotate to tdc. Pull the dist cap and see where it is pointing, should be just about directly at #1. If not, note if before or after cuz now you got to rotate the oil pump the opposite direction to reline it up. If you didn't know the bottom of the dist rotates the pump and it acts like a flat screw driver fitting into a screw head. Get a long screw drive or what ever you can rig up to rotate the pump just a little get the dist to line up when you drop it back in place. Just don't drop what ever you are using to rotate the pump down the hole. I use a oil pump primer that fits like a dist, no chance of dropping dwon the hole.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 765
Likes: 0
From: Canton GA
Re: Distributor help please! (Tominator)
http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/DistributorInstall.doc
I found that doc by Lars of great help for me..I had the same problem when I pulled my intake. If you're now at top dead center...you need to get to around 8 degrees before TDC (a good starting point for your car to at least start and run..it may not a 0 degrees). Drop your distributor back in, and then line up the #1 Plug wire with where the rotor is pointing. And you should be set. Then you can adjust your timing (advance or retard) from there once the car is running again. One key thing that helped me..the car should start without backfirinig..if it backfires the dist is off...I was 180 degrees off the first time I went back (on the exhaust stroke..it ran, but like crap)..I then rotated it 180 degrees and was fine.
I found that doc by Lars of great help for me..I had the same problem when I pulled my intake. If you're now at top dead center...you need to get to around 8 degrees before TDC (a good starting point for your car to at least start and run..it may not a 0 degrees). Drop your distributor back in, and then line up the #1 Plug wire with where the rotor is pointing. And you should be set. Then you can adjust your timing (advance or retard) from there once the car is running again. One key thing that helped me..the car should start without backfirinig..if it backfires the dist is off...I was 180 degrees off the first time I went back (on the exhaust stroke..it ran, but like crap)..I then rotated it 180 degrees and was fine.
Moderator
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 7,117
Likes: 51
From: Dove Mountain Arizona
Re: Distributor help please! (Tominator)
Per some of the above posts, find compression on your finger, turn engine with wrench to TDC or '0" on the balancer. Just line up the pointer to the mark on the balancer. Pull dist up about an inch and rotate until the rotor lines up to #1 post on cap. I put a scratch on the dist base with the cap on and then remove the cap so you can see it. The dist may not drop down due to the oil pump shaft not aligning right up, no worries. Continue to turn engine until it drops. Then advance the dist (twist) a little and fire it up. When warm, set the timing. :cheers:
[Modified by MasterDave, 11:04 AM 5/13/2002]
[Modified by MasterDave, 11:04 AM 5/13/2002]
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