Hey guys..I had a friend pull my distributor all the way out when he pulled the tranny. My question is that..when I am ready to put it back in.will it only fit in one way? I don't think the motor has been turned over.....if it doesn't fit back in one way only...then how do I line it up?

 

Bruthish,
If the motor has not been turned over since removal, then you have a 50/50 shot at getting it right. Drop it in and give it a spin. If it belches and backfires ~ or refuses to start ~ rotate the distributor and see if it starts. If it doesn't, then you are 180 degrees out. Take off the cap and look at the rotor button before pulling the distributor. Then, lift the distributor just high enough so that you can rotate the rotor button 1/2 turn, then drop it back in.

You can go the long route of finding top-dead-center of #1 cylinder, but given the fact that you are so close, try the method above.

~ Purp :thumbs:


[Modified by PurpleC4, 7:03 PM 3/15/2003]

 

:cheers:

With great respect for Stan, who has saved my butt several times, I would likr to add the following. :D

There are several positions the distributor will seem to fit if you "drop it back in"

Best to line up "top dead Center" on your fly wheel pulley with your timing mark attached to the block.
Put the cap on the distributor and mark the location of # 1 cylinder (wire) on the side of the distributor body. Remove the cap. Try to install the distributor with the rotor button pointed to the mark of # 1.

Here's where you can be 180 degrees out! There are two time, in the revolution of the engine when the timing marks will line up. One time it is spot on, the other time it will be 180 degrees out.

This sounds complicated, but it really isn't. Just rember that the rotor button has to point to # 1 cyl when number i is at tdc and ready to fire.

Once you have done that, Like Stan says, if it doesn't fire, then reverse the position 180 degrees.

PS Tell your friend to mark the dist the next time he removes it!!!

:D

 

Thanks for your help guys...I will(hopefully) be doing this soon....Thanks! :thumbs:

 

Yes ~ But Jack, if the engine hasn't been turned over (and no one has stuck a screwdriver into the distributor access and turned the oil pump drive ~ then the distributor will only drop in to one of two positions...... Dead on (+ or - a few degrees for final adjustment) or 180 degrees out. :yesnod:

Jack ole Buddy. How ya doing anyway? When are you gonna come to Arizona and visit Candy & me?

~ Stan

 

go and buy a haynes manual, they outline basic procedures like this :yesnod: :cheers:

 

I wouldn't fool with it, backfires can cause ring and/or crank damage in an extreme case........not likely, but certainly possible! You're doing a lot of other work, so don't take a chance here with something this easy. This is what to do:
1. Remove #1 plug and have a friend "bump" the starter intermittently,
2. Put your fingertip lightly over the plug hole and you'll feel the compression on one of the "bumps",
3. At that point, stop, and locate your timing mark on the dampener,
4. Bring it to "0" on the timing tab with a socket on the dampener bolt to turn it,(or use your flexplate or flywheel)
5. Put the cap on the distributor and scribe the base of the distributor below the #1 tower,
6. Drop the distributor in such a way that the rotor ends up pointing very close to the mark you just scribed,
7. The distributor will be 1/4 to 1/2 inch from seating completely...... if the distributor will rotate to the mark you scribed and beyond, you're in the right spot. If it doesn't, repeat the drop sequence till it will,
8. With the distributor in it's proper location, have the helper "bump" the starter again intermittently while you lightly press the distributor down. It will drop into the oil pump keyway and seat itself.....(note that under normal conditions the #1 tower will generally point toward the left front of the engine when the distributor is installed)

Button everything up, and time it normally........you will be close enough to get it started, barring any other problems. Good luck! :cheers:

 

Guys ~ :eek: You are forgetting one major point. When you rotate the engine without the distributor installed, the oil pump drive isn't turning. The oil pump drive is what trully indexes the distributor. It has a female slot in it which engages into a corresponding male portion on the bottom of the distributor.

Caboboy ~ you are correct that this is a relatively easy way to achieve TDC on the #1 cylinder, but if it is done without the distributor in (fully inserted), then the engine will be on TDC, but the oil pump drive could be as much as 90 degrees off.

OK ~ so, let's go the long route and make 100% sure nothing is overlooked:

1: Remove the driver side valve cover
2: Rotate engine (clockwise as you face the engine from the front) until the #1 cylinder intake valve opens, then starts to close.
3: Continue rotation until the timing mark comes into view, then bring it to TDC on the timing cover timing scale
4: As Caboboy has indicated, scribe the #1 plug wire orientation on the distributor then drop into the bore while trying to maintain the rotor button at the #1 location.
5: While holding the rotor at the index mark, look at bottom side of distributor shaft at the male slot and make a mental note of how the male tab is oriented.
6: Look into block where distributor will be inserted (use a strong flashlight) and look at the oil pump drive
7: If drive slot in oil pump drive is not close to the same index as distributor, use a long standard screwdriver and turn the oild pump drive to as close of a match as you can achieve.
8: Drop distributor into the block while holding rotor button at scribed mark. You may have to allow the rotor to turn slightly to firmly seat the distributor.
9: If you cannot fully seat the distributor at this orientation, allowing for movement for final timing adjustment....... Then;
10: Remove distributor and adjust the oil pump drive again with a screwdriver.
11: Thru trial and error, you will be able to drop the distributor exactly where you want it.
12: Install distributor clamp and tighten to where it firmly holds distributor in place, but allows for rotation whith a little force.
13: Install valve cover
14: Verify that rotor button is pointing at the scribed mark on distributor (see step #4)
15: Install distributor cap
16: Start engine
17: Using a timing light, time the engine per proper procedure for your year and model
18: Stop engine and tighten distributor
19: Start engine and verify that the timing did not change when the distributor was fully tightened.

~ Purp :yesnod:

 

Purp.......nice work Bud! :thumbs:

I was just showing a shortcut by bumping the distributor shaft around to mate with the pump shaft, but I agree, a novice shouldn't be cutting corners doing this. This forum is great !

 

Wow, I didn't really expect all of that...but man that was great instructions! I talked to my friend who advised me that he knows how it goes back in.....hopefully he marked it. But I am going to print out this thread just in case. I have pulled distributors before and put them back with no problem...I just wanted to "freshen" up my skills and make sure I didn't make a mistake!! :thumbs:

 

I have another suggestion for finding tdc on compression stroke. Line up the timing mark on the balancer with zero on the timing tab. Then, take out the #1 spark plug and screw in the hose from your compression guage. Now, try to blow air into the cylinder. If you can blow you are not at tdc on compression stroke. Rotate the engine once around to line up the timing mark again and try to blow. If you are at tdc on compression stroke you won't be able to blow into #1. I find this easier that taking off the valve cover or trying to feel the air coming out with your finger.