Distributor Wiring
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 425
Likes: 3
From: Jefferson City Missouri
Distributor Wiring
I have a 454 installed in my '68 coupe. It's obviously not the original and I'm not sure of exactly what it come out of other than a large fertilizer truck. I noticed when taking out the distributor that my #1 cylinder plug wire is in a different position than all the standard documentation I have found on the Chevy 454. Here it the most common diagram I have found for the 454.
Notice the #1 cylinder is around top right location. Mine is one more position over much like that of the '68 327. Can a guy just move the all the wire positions back one and then pull the distributor and move it back one tooth to put this to the correct position?
Notice the #1 cylinder is around top right location. Mine is one more position over much like that of the '68 327. Can a guy just move the all the wire positions back one and then pull the distributor and move it back one tooth to put this to the correct position?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,117
Likes: 104
From: charlotte north carolina
Sure. The distributor is clocked in a certain position in order to keep the tach cable as straight as possible. Just maintain the same relationship of the rotor to the 'old' cap post as the 'new' cap post. If you want, read Lars' 'How to Install your Chevy Distributor'. Don't crank the engine with the distributor out. Reinstall it, and bump the starter until the damper shows 10*BDC. Remove the cap, and see if the rotor is pointing to the #1 or #6 post. If it's on #1, the engine is on compression on #1 cylinder. If it's pointing to #6, bump it around one more revolution. Easier than feeling for pressure at the plug.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,057
Likes: 421
From: BC
You can clock the distributor to any position you want. I have my 69 427 set up like your second diagram for 327's to give the tach cable a straight shot to the firewall with less bend than normal like your diagram on the left. Whatever floats your boat...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 425
Likes: 3
From: Jefferson City Missouri
In addition to clocking the entire distributor, my question is more specifically to clocking just the wires (along with the rotor to match the wires). So you can have the distributor and its tach cable in the position you have and have the wires in the original clock position for the 454/427. From what I understand now, one can do either as long as its done right.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Wow- so much on going confusion.
1) you can clock the housing any way you want. On Corvettes, choose the housing position that puts the least stress on the tach cable. I think on BBC that would mean the vacuum advance housing will be just in fornt of the support bracket for the sheilding.
2) you can choose which ever tower you want as #1. Just have the rotor point at the designated tower whan #1 piston is at TDC on the compression stroke.
If I read your description correctly, you've already got everything correct. The diagram you show on the left is not applicable to Corvette.
1) you can clock the housing any way you want. On Corvettes, choose the housing position that puts the least stress on the tach cable. I think on BBC that would mean the vacuum advance housing will be just in fornt of the support bracket for the sheilding.
2) you can choose which ever tower you want as #1. Just have the rotor point at the designated tower whan #1 piston is at TDC on the compression stroke.
If I read your description correctly, you've already got everything correct. The diagram you show on the left is not applicable to Corvette.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 425
Likes: 3
From: Jefferson City Missouri
I left the wires as they are like the one on the right. Right or wrong, that's they way the were so I left them. Had to bump the starter to get the oil pump to line back up and it dropped right in and started up the first time.
