help putting in distributor
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 12
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From: Wmspt PA
help putting in distributor
ok. i am re-inserting my distributor. all i get is backfires up thru the carb so i know i must be off. i turned the engine over until the timing mark was lined up close to 0 deg. i inserted the distributor so the cap was firing on number one. doesnt work. what am i doing wrong? :nopity
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: TEXASTEXASTEXASTEXAS TEXASTEXASTEXASTEXAS
St. Jude Contributor
Re: help putting in distributor (berkleyjet)
I'm guessing you're either a tooth off or 180 degrees out. The timing mark comes to 0 degrees both at top dead center and 180 out. Try bumping the engine until the mark comes up again, then pull the distributer and put it in again with the rotor pointing to the #1 tower, & see if it'll start then. If that doesn't work, find TDC by pulling the #1 plug and holding your finger over the plug hole while someone bumps the engine. When you feel pressure, you're on the compression stroke. Bring it to the 0 degree mark & you ought to be at TDC (it's actually better to be about 8 degrees advanced instead of right at 0 if you've got a small block). Then line the rotor up to #1.
JB
[Modified by JB, 11:33 PM 7/10/2003]
JB
[Modified by JB, 11:33 PM 7/10/2003]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,128
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From: Deltona (son of Deland and DAYTONA) FL
Re: help putting in distributor (berkleyjet)
you might be off by like one tooth. If you lift the distributor just enough to be able to turn the rotor ever so slightly you should be able to grab the next tooth. Now the oil pump intermediate shaft might prevent it from dropping all the way down. You'll have to turn it in the same direction you are turning the rotor.
When i recurved and re-shimmed my distributor, I must have moved my oil pump intermediate shaft because even after I carefully marked the position of the rotor on the dist housing (remember it rotate 1.25 inches clockwise as you pull it out) I could grab the tooth that made it align with my mark, but not drop all the way down. I used a long screw driver and turned the oil pump shaft a little clockwise to match the key on the distributor and then it dropped right in.
[Modified by isosceles, 12:34 AM 7/11/2003]
When i recurved and re-shimmed my distributor, I must have moved my oil pump intermediate shaft because even after I carefully marked the position of the rotor on the dist housing (remember it rotate 1.25 inches clockwise as you pull it out) I could grab the tooth that made it align with my mark, but not drop all the way down. I used a long screw driver and turned the oil pump shaft a little clockwise to match the key on the distributor and then it dropped right in.
[Modified by isosceles, 12:34 AM 7/11/2003]
Senior Member since 1492
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From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
Re: help putting in distributor (JB)
I'm guessing you're either a tooth off or 180 degrees out. The timing mark comes to 0 degrees both at top dead center and 180 out.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 1999
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From: Hagerstown MD
Re: help putting in distributor (1970 Stingray)
You can be 180 degrees out on the distributor with the timing mark lined up. The camshaft and distributor rotate at half the speed of the crankshaft.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 478
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From: Huntsville AL
Re: help putting in distributor (1970 Stingray)
Yes this is true...you could be 180 degrees out and actually be at TDC of the number 6 cylinder with the timing mark at zero. (Crank turns twice to one revolution of the cam).
YBNormal...drive a vette
YBNormal...drive a vette
Drifting
Joined: May 2001
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From: Holly MI
Re: help putting in distributor (Ybnormal)
If you're only one tooth off, you should be able to start the car just by turning the distributor. I don't mean pulling it out, just turning it with the hold down loosened. IF you are getting some serious blow back through the carb, I would pull the distributor and turn 180 degrees.
Ken
Ken
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
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From: Was New Orleans but swam to Baton Rouge LA
Cruise-In IX Veteran
Re: help putting in distributor (berkleyjet)
Maybe reading one of Lars papers on distributors would help you a little bit. You can find them at http://www.corvettefaq.com I personally have printed up a few of his papers to help with carbs and distributors.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: TEXASTEXASTEXASTEXAS TEXASTEXASTEXASTEXAS
St. Jude Contributor
Re: help putting in distributor (1970 Stingray)
I'm guessing you're either a tooth off or 180 degrees out. The timing mark comes to 0 degrees both at top dead center and 180 out.
Is that true? :confused: I have my BB apart and #1 is only at the TDC when the timing mark is at or near Zero. When the timing mark on the balancer is 180 deg out, the #1 piston is at the bottom of the cylinder. :confused:
Is that true? :confused: I have my BB apart and #1 is only at the TDC when the timing mark is at or near Zero. When the timing mark on the balancer is 180 deg out, the #1 piston is at the bottom of the cylinder. :confused:
JB
[Modified by JB, 9:10 AM 7/11/2003]
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Wmspt PA
Re: help putting in distributor (JB)
it was 180 deg. off. thanks a bunch guys. now anybody know why there are 2 different timing marks timing marks? they are about 30-40 timing degrees apart. its a 454.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Severna Park Md
Re: help putting in distributor (berkleyjet)
it was 180 deg. off. thanks a bunch guys. now anybody know why there are 2 different timing marks timing marks? they are about 30-40 timing degrees apart. its a 454.
Senior Member since 1492
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From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
Re: help putting in distributor (JB)
Len, you misunderstood me. Not the timing mark on the balancer, but the rotor on the distributor. If the timing mark is 180 degrees from the zero mark on the degree scale, you are right, the piston will be at the bottom of its stroke. But the zero mark on the balancer will point at the zero mark on the degree scale both at TDC and at the top of the exhaust stroke, while the rotor will point at the #1 tower at TDC and at a spot 180 degrees from the #1 tower at the top of the exhaust stroke. This is because, like someone else pointed out, the distributor rotates at half the speed of the crank.
JB
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From: Exiled to Richmond, VA - Finally sold my house in Murfreesboro, TN ?? Corner of "Bumf*&k and 'You've got a purdy mouth'."
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CI-VIII Burnout Champ
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
Re: help putting in distributor (berkleyjet)
it was 180 deg. off. thanks a bunch guys. now anybody know why there are 2 different timing marks timing marks? they are about 30-40 timing degrees apart. its a 454.
Just my guess. I did that on my balancer. I have a white mark at 0 and a yellow mark at 34.