Position cylinder n°1 on distributor
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 238
Likes: 10
Look at rockers on #6 while bumping the engine over. You will see the #6 exhaust rocker closing. Just as the intake starts to open while exh is closing, stop bumping engine. Now look at timing mark. Probably right on tdc or real close. At this point you know you are firing on 1 cuz you know 6 is between exh and intake strokes. It is not rocket science. Even an idiot like me can figure this out.
I've also questionned an "old" Corvette specialist here in Switzerland (42 years Corvette only experience) : you must have the TDC mark on the damper 6 cm (2.4 ") before the fix mark on the engine ! There is always a lot of plays in an engine and with this, you'll count with this play.
I had done like this and engine fired instantly :-)
After that, the ignition must of course be adjusted : I've at first set 4° advance. But after reading a lot of posts, I've set 8° advance and it is far better. I must now measure the total advance.
Last edited by chris383; Aug 15, 2018 at 04:38 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 238
Likes: 10
The instructions back in post #2 of this thread stated the same thing concerning the fixed marked on the damper. It has to be advanced to get the engine to start the first shot.
It is explain on instructions in post 2 this :
"Bring the engine up to Top Dead Center on the Compression Stroke and align the timing mark on the harmonic
balancer with the 8-degree mark on the timing chain cover"
This is NOT what I have told.
You must set the mark on harmonic balancer 2.4 inches before the fixed mark, not only 8 degree. After that you'll mount the distributor as explained on instructions (that works good but need a little practise to achieve it....) and after that, you fire the engine (and it must - as mine - fire instantly) and set the 8° advance.
Last edited by chris383; Aug 16, 2018 at 03:58 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 238
Likes: 10
35 ° with 8'' LT-1 harmonic balancer.
I know that and I was very septic with this, but it has worked on my engine : maybe a fresh rebuilt engine has less play and it wouldn't work ?
Of course, you must soon after firing set the correct 8° (for me)
I know that and I was very septic with this, but it has worked on my engine : maybe a fresh rebuilt engine has less play and it wouldn't work ?
Of course, you must soon after firing set the correct 8° (for me)
Racer
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 430
Likes: 60
From: Central KY
Handy Helper
Attached is a handy tool you can make which can help when dealing with timing and/or valve adjustment. Use a hacksaw to remove the tower portions of a old distributor cap. Then label each tower clockwise according to the firing order sequence, in this case, 18436572. You might want to consider which tower you want for #1. You can see where mine is. Now install the tool on the distributor. With the rotor in place, it is easy to position the engine at any cylinders firing point. If the distributor has been removed and repositioning is unknown, simply turn the engine until the timing marks are aligned. If either valve on #1 is depressed #6 is at TDC, so rotate the crankshaft 360 degrees and both #1 valves should be closed- #1 at TDC. Now drop the distributor in and place the #1 tower in the correct position relative to vacuum can placement and aligning the rotor to the #1 position on the handy tool. The only problem might be the alignment of the distributor with the oil pump slot. A long flat blade screwdriver can be used to move the oil pump shaft until alignment is made.
Hope this helps!
Pro
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 615
Likes: 25
From: Graham NC
Does any have a similar picture with all the wires going into early c3 with base 350 so I can see the proper wiring scheme and how the wires should be located. It would be great to understand that this wire goes under this wire or should be between these wire etc. thank you
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