Hey guys,

I replaced the engine wiring harness in my 1969 L46 w/ TI. I believe I'm hooked up properly - even purchased the additional connector from Paragon to hook the harness into the TI system and followed the AIM for K66.

The car sat for quite a few months, and being a fairly new build (within 1500 miles) I wanted to change and reprime the oil. popped off the distributor cap (to leave the plug wires all attached), disconnected the tach pick up wires, pulled the distributor and proceeded to prime the motor. I marked on the distributor and manifold so I could just drop the distributor back in. This car was running perfectly before this work, but the tattered wiring, I believed, was causing a battery drain at the starter.

When I replaced the distributor, I unfortunately did not note the location of the timing mark on the harmonic balancer, nor the direction which the distributor rotor was pointing. I also didn't make any adjustment to the oil pump prior to replacing the distributor after priming.

Long story short, I do not have ignition. Starter turns over fine, and I do get a few puffs here and there. So I think I'm way off for timing.

How do I reset this situation? How do I get the engine to top dead center? How do I clock the distributor to drop in? Any and all help would be appreciated.

Peter

 

First, contact Lars on this forum to get his timing white papers for reference.
Next, Either get a remote starter switch or have a helper bump over the starter while you hold a finger over the #1 spark plug hole. When you feel pressure trying to blow your finger off the hole, you are approaching top dead center on cyl 1. Use a wrench on the harmonic balancer bolt to bring the mark on the balancer in-line with the 0 degree mark on the timing tab. You are now at top dead on cyl 1.
Now drop the distributor in with the vacuum advance can roughly pointing towards the passenger front wheel. Manipulate the rotor so that when the dist drops all the way down, it will be pointing to the terminal that is connected to #1 spark plug wire when the dist cap is installed. You may need to pull the dist back out and use a large screwdriver in the dist hole to turn the oil pump shaft a bit to get it to line up with the tang on the bottom of the distributor. Don’t be surprised if this takes several tries to get it to drop completely down onto the intake. Snug the distributor hold down so that the dist can still be turned by hand to adjust the timing. Double check all your sparky wires against the firing order cast into the intake. The rotor turns clockwise when viewed from above, so make sure the firing order goes CW around the distributor.
when you go to fire it up, you might have to advance a little (turn dist body CCW) to get it to run.
From there follow Lars’ timing papers to get ‘er dialed in.

 

If you need a "visual", check out YouTube. Must be a dozen vids on there, how to stab a dizzy, SBC.

 

Hi wwiiavfan,

Yep, I have Lars' papers, in fact prior to the harness replacement used his timing guidance to get this motor really humming.

I ended up pulling a handful of plugs and turning the motor by hand. Turned the rotor on the distributor so that it pointed at #1 cylinder and dropped it in. Connected everything back up, but still having a lack of ignition. I'm going to go under the assumption that I may have a wiring issue, and not a timing issue. Or, I'm 180° off

 

When you say lack of ignition, does that mean no spark? Regardless of whether or not you're timed right, you should get spark. If not, check your connections.

 

Easy to get it 180 off. Even I did it once. Slapped my forehead as soon as I cranked it over. Pulled it, turned it 180 and away she went. I felt kinda stupid for a moment.

 

Yep it’s easy to be 180 off. Remember the balancer mark indicates top dead center twice in each combustion cycle, once during compression and once during exhaust. You need to be on compression (the compression blowing your finger off the spark plug hole) when you drop the distributor pointing at the #1 cap terminal.

 

Use a spark plug checker or just a screwdriver to be sure you have sparks with your new ignition setup.

 

you have 2 choices.

1. pull number 1 spark plug, have some one crank the motor over buy hand wwith your thumb or favorite finger stuffed into the spark plug hole and feel for the compression to build in the spark plug hole as the timing mark comes up to zero. That will be the compression stroke of number 1 cylinder. Drop in the distibutor so that the rotor is pointing at the number one tower of your cap. I have an old cap wwith the center cut out to make this easy
2. pull the valve cover on the 1357 side and bring the timing mark up to zero. Both valves should be closed. THats the compression stroke. if they are not you are 180 degrees off and rotate the engine over another rotation. Set the distributor in as described above

 

when 180 out they look closed. roll motor back and forth past tdc and see if the 2 valves are just opening and closing. if so you are firing on 6. if no movement you are firing on 1.

 

All of the above is of course correct. However, if he had it pointing at number one with the timing mark lined up as he said. And he got the odd puff and bark. He just needs to pull the distributor and turn it 180 and restab it. Done!

 

He stated he didnt bring it to top dead center and note the rotor placement, so it isnt just 180* out, but it is "out" for sure

 

If you blow your thumb off #1 with a helper bumping the starter.....you will never be 180 off again.

Jebby