more basic tech, stabbing a distributor

there are a few ways to accomplish this

here is how I like to do it.

this motor is fresh so I will prime it with oil first

I have an old distributor shaft that I ground the teeth off of the gear and trimmed the top a little

just to tidy it up,

 

drop that in and spin it with the drill motor till oil flows at all pushrods

 

with one finger in the number one spark plug hole reach in the drivers window and turn the key,

roll the motor over till you feel compression,

turn it the rest of the way by hand right to TDC #1

 

I want the tach drive at the back of the distributor, parallel with the firewall,
I also like number one spark plug wire at the cap pointing towards the number one cylinder,
so with the distributor held how I want it I turn the rotor in the direction I want it and file a small nick in the distributor housing right in line with that plug tower.

turn the rotor so it's a little counter clockwise from the nick

 

drop it in the hole till the gear is engaged.

once in a million times the oil pump drive will line up and it will drop all the way down.

but more likely it will not, so,

again reach inside and turn the key to roll the motor over,

the cam will turn the distributor shaft and when it lines up with the oil pump drive it will drop right in.

usually

 

then again with the finger in the number one plug hole roll the motor over till you get pressure,

finish bringing it to TDC by hand take a look at the rotor and it will be pointing right where you want it.

turn the distributor to line the nick up the the rotor and gently snug the distributor clamp down.

it takes a lot longer to type and attempt to explain then it does to do.

Paul

 

I'll add a couple of my pointers to this post.

1) If you set your crank at your base timing mark before dropping in your distributor ( ie. stop at 12 degrees BTDC if thats your base.) Then you have a much better chance of having your cap facing the direction you choose.

2) I have a long flat head srewdriver with a large handle on it to turn the oil pump drive. This saves me from having to turn the engine over too much and the big handle makes it impossible to drop inside!

Great tech post. I've met alot of licensed techs that just can't get it. Distributor timing is a great mystery for some reason but once you understand its basic principles you'll never be bothered by it again.

 

That is exactly like my engine builder,"Hotrods by Goucher" has done it.
For tdc or compression stroke, he has a small soft plastic*******(string through the edge) he sets in the no.1 hole.
When the engine is turned over(he does it by hand) the******* is blown out of the hole.
Then, he continues to TDC or the desired degree of advance.
Your posts make us think any one of us can do this.
Great stuff, keep em coming.
Thanks,
Jim

 

Good explanation, ought to help those who just don't get it.

I've gotten in the habit of getting the timing set where I want it, then scribing or punching match marks on the distributor base and top of the block. Also, do the same thing under the cap on the distributor to indicate where the rotor should point with No. 1 at X degrees before TDC. Makes it easy to replace the distributor and have it set up close enough to fire up without any monkeying around. Usually only a degree or two off when I recheck with a timing light.