Rotor orientation
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 189
Likes: 73
From: Christiansburg Va
Factory position for #1 is about the 5 o'clock position. It really doesn't make much difference where the rotor is located as long as you put the number 1 wire where its pointing at and go from there. As mentioned above, if it dont start it could be 180 degrees out.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,391
Likes: 73
Pic
5 oclock looking at the picture, i dont think so. The FSM shows it at about 8 or 9 oclock. There is a groove in the dist gear that matches a slot in the distributor so how can you move it a tooth or 2? I bought the harness online, a few places sell them.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 189
Likes: 73
From: Christiansburg Va
Saying a tooth or two off is referencing the distributor gear meshing with the camshaft gear, nothing to do with the distributor itself.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,391
Likes: 73
So I looked at that thread about the retainer and it looks like #1 is about 8 oclock. So I am a few degrees off but when I look up into the distributor gear it looks like there is a slotted receiver that looks like the oil pump slot but I guess the two dont join or else you would never get the thing together. Its just gear to gear, right?
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 189
Likes: 73
From: Christiansburg Va
What you see in the distributor shaft is what engages the drive tang of the oil pump. The camshaft drives the distributor, the distributor in turn drives the oil pump.
Check the picture again, number one is on the drivers side. As JoBy stated, if you laid a straight edge from the distributor over to the number one cylinder, that would be about 5 o'clock. The front of the engine is to the left, not the bottom of the picture.
Check the picture again, number one is on the drivers side. As JoBy stated, if you laid a straight edge from the distributor over to the number one cylinder, that would be about 5 o'clock. The front of the engine is to the left, not the bottom of the picture.
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,391
Likes: 73
78blueta, thats a good way to align it, thanks for the tip. Straight edge to #1 cylinder. Now I think I need a bigger distributor wrench. My offset one is for smaller distributors. Wonder if they make a HEI wrench.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,394
Likes: 2,741
No WVZR-1 YOU have avoided the question. This thread is about distributor orientation. If you are concerned about the grommet you should have replied to my thread about the HEI rebuild.
Really?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,391
Likes: 73
Really
Yes really. You have to ask and answer questions in the correct thread so that people down the road can find the correct answer. It was hell for me to find that correct grommet because i could not find any internet posts. I was lucky and found the part.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,391
Likes: 73
Wont go down
I cant get the distributor down for the life of me. Its an 1/8 high. I tried rotating the body, no luck. When in place where should the green groomet be located, passenger or driver side? Any tricks?
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,500
Likes: 879
From: Saratoga Springs NY
2024 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
You need to set distributor all the way down and see where rotor points. Figure out where you WANT it to point. Pull distributor and look down in engine and see where oil pump drive is facing. Take a long flat screwdriver and rotate oil pump drive clockwise and take a guess. Reinstall distributor and see where its at now. Might take a few times. Dont turn oil pump drive counter clockwise as the oil in it will slowly move it back to where it was. Like I said it'll take you a few times.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,677
Likes: 812
From: Saskatoon Sask.
Always amazed me how hung up people get over a distributor. There has to be a hundred threads on here about installing a distributor. There is no right or wrong way. Some get hung up on the cap that is numbered "1". Who cares.
Put the distributor in the hole and line everything up to your liking or how the FSM shows you.. If it doesn't drop in all the way, put minor pressure on it and bump the starter until the slots on the drive and the oil pump line up. NOW it will fall into place. Now is the time to find TDC of #1, not before. Once you have done this, observe what post the rotor is most lined up with, move the distributor slightly to conform, and make this your #1. Plug in the wires according to the firing order and rotation of the rotor. Simple.
Put the distributor in the hole and line everything up to your liking or how the FSM shows you.. If it doesn't drop in all the way, put minor pressure on it and bump the starter until the slots on the drive and the oil pump line up. NOW it will fall into place. Now is the time to find TDC of #1, not before. Once you have done this, observe what post the rotor is most lined up with, move the distributor slightly to conform, and make this your #1. Plug in the wires according to the firing order and rotation of the rotor. Simple.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,700
Likes: 1,667
From: moraga ca
No WVZR-1 YOU have avoided the question. This thread is about distributor orientation. If you are concerned about the grommet you should have replied to my thread about the HEI rebuild.
Last edited by 383vett; Feb 5, 2023 at 01:10 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,677
Likes: 812
From: Saskatoon Sask.
Johnfin, WVZR1 has over 21000 posts over the past couple of decades and has helped at least a thousand members over the years on this forum and you are telling him how to ask and answer questions. Why don't you youtube "how to set up a distributor" and figure it out yourself. A video carries much more information than a few sentences. What you are trying to do is very basic to most on here. It's ok to learn how to help yourself.
Last edited by arbee; Feb 5, 2023 at 01:36 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,150
Likes: 304
From: Timra, Sweden
Always amazed me how hung up people get over a distributor. There has to be a hundred threads on here about installing a distributor. There is no right or wrong way. Some get hung up on the cap that is numbered "1". Who cares.
Put the distributor in the hole and line everything up to your liking or how the FSM shows you.. If it doesn't drop in all the way, put minor pressure on it and bump the starter until the slots on the drive and the oil pump line up. NOW it will fall into place. Now is the time to find TDC of #1, not before. Once you have done this, observe what post the rotor is most lined up with, move the distributor slightly to conform, and make this your #1. Plug in the wires according to the firing order and rotation of the rotor. Simple.
Put the distributor in the hole and line everything up to your liking or how the FSM shows you.. If it doesn't drop in all the way, put minor pressure on it and bump the starter until the slots on the drive and the oil pump line up. NOW it will fall into place. Now is the time to find TDC of #1, not before. Once you have done this, observe what post the rotor is most lined up with, move the distributor slightly to conform, and make this your #1. Plug in the wires according to the firing order and rotation of the rotor. Simple.
But still there is a right and a wrong, and unless you have a reson for doing it wrong, then why not do it right?
Even if it is just to make it easier for the next guy that try to follow the workshop manual when changing spark plug wires.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,677
Likes: 812
From: Saskatoon Sask.
The only "wrong is if the fkn thing doesn't run. If the "next guy" needs to follow a shop manual for something as simple as changing plug wires, then maybe he should put the wrenches down and step away. I know of no gearhead that pulls out the manual for such a procedure. You have been here a long time and I think you probably know your way around these cars. Are you trying to tell me you pull out your manual? If you do, then by all means - fill your boots. Follow the manual. Does the manual tell you how to engage the oil pump as I did?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,150
Likes: 304
From: Timra, Sweden
The only "wrong is if the fkn thing doesn't run. If the "next guy" needs to follow a shop manual for something as simple as changing plug wires, then maybe he should put the wrenches down and step away. I know of no gearhead that pulls out the manual for such a procedure. You have been here a long time and I think you probably know your way around these cars. Are you trying to tell me you pull out your manual? If you do, then by all means - fill your boots. Follow the manual. Does the manual tell you how to engage the oil pump as I did?So yes, I am not afraid to do some wrenching, and I don't mind improving and changing stuff. But I do take my time to install the distributor on the correct tooth. It does take a few minutes extra time to align the oil pump drive, but it is not that hard to do.
