Editing How to install a distributor (section)
Jump to:
navigation
,
search
==Top dead center timing check== Make sure your motor is on TDC on compression stroke, put the timing mark on whatever you want your initial timing to be, let's say 12° for instance. If you happen to have your timing cover off, dot to dot is TDC for #6, TDC for #1 is when both dots are at 12 o'clock. More at [[Determining top dead center]]. So, now the motor is sitting with the timing mark at 12° BTDC, and your distributor shaft is about a 1/16th of a turn before that, so it will rotate into position as it drops down and engages with the cam. Once it goes down till it's sitting on top of the oil pump shaft, there will be about a 3/8" gap between the mounting flange and the intake surface. If all your marks are pretty close to lined up, push down slightly on the distributor, (not hard, don't force it), and have somebody bump the key till it drops all the way. Some folks like to turn the oil pump shaft with a long flat screwdriver to line up the oil pump shaft as well, I generally don't bother, if everything else is right, it will drop right where it needs to be the first time you bump it over. If you want to re-check your installation, or make sure it will fire the first time, bump the balancer on back around to 12° BTDC on #1 again and make sure your rotor still lines up with your #1 cylinder mark. If it doesn't pull it out and repeat. When your marks line up like they should, go ahead and turn the distributor housing to line up your #1 mark with the rotor, install the distributor clamp and snug it down, put the cap on and connect the wires, because it WILL fire the first time, and be within 2° or 3° of your target initial timing.
|
Editing help
(opens in new window)
Personal tools
Log in / create account
Namespaces
Page
Discussion
Variants
Views
Read
Edit
View history
Actions
Search
Navigation
Main Page
Recent changes
Random page
Help
All articles
Start a new article
Hotrodders forum
Categories
Best articles
Body and exterior
Brakes
Cooling
Electrical
Engine
Fasteners
Frame
Garage and shop
General hotrodding
Identification and decoding
Interior
Rearend
Safety
Steering
Suspension
Tires
Tools
Transmission
Troubleshooting
Wheels
Toolbox
What links here
Related changes
Special pages
Terms of Use
Copyright
Privacy Policy
Your Privacy Choices
Manage Consent