but the rotor should point towards the drivers front wheel if it is in the proper position with the piston at TDC.
LTX guy needs help w/L98!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 133
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From: Katy TX
LTX guy needs help w/L98!
Ok...long story short...I need a crash course on stabbing a distributor on an L98 C4. I have had my LTX C4 since 93 and of course do not know anything about distributors! LOL! Crap! I need basic "101" on how to stab it correctly and I will get a buddy to come over with a timing light and do the rest. I know to pull the #1 spark plug and turn the motor over until I hear it hit top dead center, but from there am not sure what to do with the dist. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Race Director
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From: The Top of Utah
I have no idea what you mean by "until I hear it hit top dead center", but once the piston in the #1 cylinder is at TDC, you can simply install the distributor. The #1 plug wire goes to the terminal in the distributor cap where the rotor is pointing. Install the rest of the plug wires according to the firing order, clockwise from the #1 position. If you care about where the #1 wire is located, install the distributor with the rotor point in that direction. Set the timing and you're done. Too easy.
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Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: The Top of Utah
That is how they come from the factory, but there is no improper way for the rotor to point in order for it to timed properly. In post #2, I neglected to say that the #1 piston had to be at TDC at the end of the compression stroke. It makes no difference, functionally, what way the rotor points, as long as the #1 spark plug wire is installed onto a cap terminal that can be aligned with the rotor, and slightly counter clockwise of aligned, by rotating the distributor. And as I said above, if it is desired to have the #1 plug wire in a certain location, then the distributor should be installed with the rotor pointing that direction. Simple
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 133
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From: Katy TX
That is how they come from the factory, but there is no improper way for the rotor to point in order for it to timed properly. In post #2, I neglected to say that the #1 piston had to be at TDC at the end of the compression stroke. It makes no difference, functionally, what way the rotor points, as long as the #1 spark plug wire is installed onto a cap terminal that can be aligned with the rotor, and slightly counter clockwise of aligned, by rotating the distributor. And as I said above, if it is desired to have the #1 plug wire in a certain location, then the distributor should be installed with the rotor pointing that direction. Simple
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What I meant above was that with the plug removed, you can hear it hit TDC at the end of the compression stroke as the air escapes the hole where the #1 plug goes. I do appreciate the help and will attempt it this evening. Thanks again. One last thing...just to make sure..the firing order is 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 right?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: The Top of Utah
I have never heard the piston hit TDC. If you can...great. I pull the #1 plug so I can put a thumb or finger over the plug hole, to tell when the piston is rising on the correct (compression) stroke. THEN I have to determine TDC. Yes, the firing order is 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2. The cylinders are numbered left to right, front to rear. Left front #1, right front #2, second back on the left #3, second back on the right #4, etc. The firing order and the cylinder numbers are usually cast into the intake manifold. The timing spec, with the EST disconnected, is 6° BTDC.
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Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Rochester PA
CFE-EFI,
I beg to differ w/you, but you have mislead him at to which one is #1, and therefore all the rest too. #1 is the first one on the RIGHT (dirver's side), and #2 is the first one on the LEFT (pass side), #3, second one back on the driver's side, #4 second one back on the pass side, and so on, and so forth. Please stand corrected.
Rich K
I beg to differ w/you, but you have mislead him at to which one is #1, and therefore all the rest too. #1 is the first one on the RIGHT (dirver's side), and #2 is the first one on the LEFT (pass side), #3, second one back on the driver's side, #4 second one back on the pass side, and so on, and so forth. Please stand corrected.
Rich K
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Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: port charlotte fl
I have never heard the piston hit TDC. If you can...great. I pull the #1 plug so I can put a thumb or finger over the plug hole, to tell when the piston is rising on the correct (compression) stroke. THEN I have to determine TDC. Yes, the firing order is 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2. The cylinders are numbered left to right, front to rear. Left front #1, right front #2, second back on the left #3, second back on the right #4, etc. The firing order and the cylinder numbers are usually cast into the intake manifold. The timing spec, with the EST disconnected, is 6° BTDC.
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Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: FL
Sorry guys CFI-EFI is right on this one. The argument concerning which way you are looking at the car is meaningless, like you the car has a front and back therefore the odd numbered cylinders are on the left.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Rochester PA
With these cars we are working them more on either the right side, or the left, because of the hood.
But it is more than a general conception that as we work on them, we are facing the engine,
and therefore the driver's side is always the right side. You do not sit in the driver's seat
and say which side of the enging is right or left, it is always from the front of the car.
BTW, if you are not sure which is #1 cylinder on ANY V8 engine, simply look down directly from the top,
and the forwardmost cylinder one is #1. Easy enough. RACE ON!
Rich K
But it is more than a general conception that as we work on them, we are facing the engine,
and therefore the driver's side is always the right side. You do not sit in the driver's seat
and say which side of the enging is right or left, it is always from the front of the car.
BTW, if you are not sure which is #1 cylinder on ANY V8 engine, simply look down directly from the top,
and the forwardmost cylinder one is #1. Easy enough. RACE ON!
Rich K
Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Rochester PA
You don't work on an engine from inside the car, so when the service manual designates the driver's side as the left (makes sense to me, looking forward through the windshield), unfortunately has NOTHING to do with directing someone to which side is which, when working on the engine.
In fact, call for a fender at a bone yard, and they don't even ask right or left (because then it would have to be determined which way you were facing the car), which would do nothing but create confusion, like you are doing. That is why they will ask driver's side or pass side?
But if you are directing someone how to identify #1 spark plug on a Chevy, you would tell them as they are looking at the engine (because you do have to FACE the engine to work on it) , it is the first plug on your right. If you want to get technical, as it seems you do (quoting the manual), then you could say, as you are sitting in the car, it is on your left, but when you get out and turn around to work on it, then it is on your RIGHT. Ridiculous argument, just for the sake of argument. Enough said.
Rich K
In fact, call for a fender at a bone yard, and they don't even ask right or left (because then it would have to be determined which way you were facing the car), which would do nothing but create confusion, like you are doing. That is why they will ask driver's side or pass side?
But if you are directing someone how to identify #1 spark plug on a Chevy, you would tell them as they are looking at the engine (because you do have to FACE the engine to work on it) , it is the first plug on your right. If you want to get technical, as it seems you do (quoting the manual), then you could say, as you are sitting in the car, it is on your left, but when you get out and turn around to work on it, then it is on your RIGHT. Ridiculous argument, just for the sake of argument. Enough said.
Rich K
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From: Conroe TEXAS!
Cruise-In X Veteran
Im with toptech. I worked in a shop as a general mechanic for a few years and my boss (ASE 20+ years) told me that was the proper way. So has everyone else. I was told to think of left to right as if I was sitting in the car, not facing it. Font, back, left, right....it makes sence that way.
When I first started I even had the office guy order the wrong part a few times because I had my left and right backwards.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: The Top of Utah
Originally Posted by thirdtimevetteowner
CFE-EFI,
I beg to differ w/you, but you have mislead him at to which one is #1, and therefore all the rest too. #1 is the first one on the RIGHT (dirver's side), and #2 is the first one on the LEFT (pass side), #3, second one back on the driver's side, #4 second one back on the pass side, and so on, and so forth. Please stand corrected.
Rich K
I beg to differ w/you, but you have mislead him at to which one is #1, and therefore all the rest too. #1 is the first one on the RIGHT (dirver's side), and #2 is the first one on the LEFT (pass side), #3, second one back on the driver's side, #4 second one back on the pass side, and so on, and so forth. Please stand corrected.
Rich K
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Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Conroe TEXAS!
Cruise-In X Veteran
Head lights were in the front too.
lol 
