installing distributor
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 2,897
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From: Moon Township PA
installing distributor
I am pulling my distributor on my 72 LT1 in order to do some maintenance on it. Since the archives are down, can anyone pass on information on pulling and reinstalling it. In the past, I have used the installation procedure found in "How to Rebuild Your Small Block Chevy" that discusses distributor installation in a freshly rebuilt engine and it worked quite well. On an installed engine, if I put the engine on #1 TDC, using the finger over the spark plug hole and the timing mark, how do I ensure that the distributor is installed correctly and pointing in the right direction?
Any help here?
Gary
Any help here?
Gary
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
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Remove the cap and look at the rotor. Make sure it points to the #1 plug tower and check if the balancer witness line mates up w/ the timing pointer. Mark the distributor edge where the rotor points to. Then in line mark the manifold too. Do not rotate the engine or oil pump and it should slide right back in if you just start a little anti clockwise of where the mark is (for both the rotor and distr).
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Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Set #1 on TDC of the compression stroke. Pull distributor cap and check position of rotor. Mark same. Remove distributor. For reinstallation, eyeball approximate rotor position then make allowance for slight movement past cam gear and connection with oil pump drive. With distributor seated, rotor should be pointing to #1 and the mark you made. This procedure will not be perfect, but it will get you in the ball park and allow you to start the engine for proper timing.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Living in the Hartland
Making it too complicated: pull the cap and take a peice of tape and stick it something other than the dist to mark where the rotor is pointing, on reinstall make sure the rotor points at the tape. Your oil pump will probably move just to spite you so you might need to rotate the oil pump shaft a little with a oil pump primer or long screw driver to make it mesh right.
BTW if you bump over the eng or mover the crank some how you will need to do the tdc thing but if the crank doesn't move then you should be fine.
BTW if you bump over the eng or mover the crank some how you will need to do the tdc thing but if the crank doesn't move then you should be fine.
Last edited by Fevre; Jul 8, 2004 at 04:50 PM.
Team Owner
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From: Ontario
Racer
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Making it too complicated: pull the cap and take a peice of tape and stick it something other than the dist to mark where the rotor is pointing, on reinstall make sure the rotor points at the tape. Your oil pump will probably move just to spite you so you might need to rotate the oil pump shaft a little with a oil pump primer or long screw driver to make it mesh right.
BTW if you bump over the eng or mover the crank some how you will need to do the tdc thing but if the crank doesn't move then you should be fine.
BTW if you bump over the eng or mover the crank some how you will need to do the tdc thing but if the crank doesn't move then you should be fine.
Right now the car works perfect, timing ok and everything right.... and I dont want to mess anything!
So I'm a bit worried about removing the distributor and not being able to reinstall it in the same position I have found it....
This is what I would like to do:
1) remove distributor cap
2) mark distributor housing position related to the motor and related to the distributor rotor
3) pull the distributor (as the distributor gear is an helical one, when I will pull the distributor rotor it should rotate clockwise when it disengages) and do maintenance (I have to replace tachometer gear)
4) when I reinstall the distributor, I should put the rotor a bit couterclockwise because of the gear is helical and everything should work...
Is this correct? is there any chance I'm not able to put the rotor back in the same position?
thanks!
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,781
Likes: 15
From: Oxford Ohio
Take a scribe or punch and mark the base of the distributor and the intake. Put it back so the marks realign and fine set the timing from there. DON"T turn the engine while the dist. is out, renders the marks useless.
If the engine moves, go through the instructions everyone above has given to you.
If the engine moves, go through the instructions everyone above has given to you.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: North of Toronto - Ontario
Sounds right, except when you remove the distributor I think the rotor will turn anit-clockwise slightly as you lift (same reason you need to start it slightly anti-clockwise when you install) but it doesn't matter anyway (when you remove it)
When you re-install you could be out 1 tooth but you'll see that it doesn't line up with your mark, just lift it until it disengages and then move it the little bit (clockwise or anticlockwise depending on what you need) and try dropping it in again until you mark is good.
May need a long, flat screwdriver to turn the oil pump shaft a little if you can't get it to lineup and let the distributor drop all the way back in
Mooser
When you re-install you could be out 1 tooth but you'll see that it doesn't line up with your mark, just lift it until it disengages and then move it the little bit (clockwise or anticlockwise depending on what you need) and try dropping it in again until you mark is good.
May need a long, flat screwdriver to turn the oil pump shaft a little if you can't get it to lineup and let the distributor drop all the way back in
Mooser
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Racer
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Is it correct that moving the oil pump shaft doesn't affects timing?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Northeast
Race Director
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From: North of Toronto - Ontario
The pump is not related to the timing at all, just runs off the shaft
Your good to go by the sounds of it
Mooser
(I'm just on the way to the garage to do mine right now so hopefully I remember also
)
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Hi, I'm resuming this topic because I have to remove my distributor, make some maintenance, and put it back.
Right now the car works perfect, timing ok and everything right.... and I dont want to mess anything!
So I'm a bit worried about removing the distributor and not being able to reinstall it in the same position I have found it....
This is what I would like to do:
1) remove distributor cap
2) mark distributor housing position related to the motor and related to the distributor rotor
3) pull the distributor (as the distributor gear is an helical one, when I will pull the distributor rotor it should rotate clockwise when it disengages) and do maintenance (I have to replace tachometer gear)
4) when I reinstall the distributor, I should put the rotor a bit couterclockwise because of the gear is helical and everything should work...
Is this correct? is there any chance I'm not able to put the rotor back in the same position?
thanks!
Right now the car works perfect, timing ok and everything right.... and I dont want to mess anything!
So I'm a bit worried about removing the distributor and not being able to reinstall it in the same position I have found it....
This is what I would like to do:
1) remove distributor cap
2) mark distributor housing position related to the motor and related to the distributor rotor
3) pull the distributor (as the distributor gear is an helical one, when I will pull the distributor rotor it should rotate clockwise when it disengages) and do maintenance (I have to replace tachometer gear)
4) when I reinstall the distributor, I should put the rotor a bit couterclockwise because of the gear is helical and everything should work...
Is this correct? is there any chance I'm not able to put the rotor back in the same position?
thanks!
You need to start a new one.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/foru...s-or-more.html
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