distributor/timing questions.... omfg

[Kaiser85]

Okay so... my timing is a bit off. Gotta be. Rough idle, kinda hard to start when cold. I just unstalled an edelbrock 1405, and havent hooked up the choke YET. Though, 55f isnt THAT cold. Anyways... heres what i got. Obvipusly they stabbed the distributor wrong. The wore going to 1 it at like 3:30 (clock position) pretty sure the order is correct but....

Nevermind the manifold vacuum leak, the cruise control is removed, and that is plugged now.

 

[Avery4jc]

There's no question mark in your entire post so I don't know what we're answering but I can take a stab at what you're asking...

Pull the number 1 plug and have a friend bump the engine over until it blows your finger off. Yes this is rudimentary but it works quite well.
Then take a look down at your timing mark and see if it's close to lining up.

Then pop the distributor cap off and make sure the rotor is pointing at or just ever so slightly past where your number one plug wire is.

Then make sure they're wired 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

It's been a bit since I had to do this on a gas motor but I'm pretty sure it's a complete cylinder off.

IIRC the electrical plugs (for 12V power, tach, etc) should be near perpendicular to the motor, roughly in line with the firewall.

If they hooked the plug wires up right (wrong per the book), it could technically work.

Still, it's not normal and I don't see why it would need to be "special".

 

[Avery4jc]

It's been a bit since I had to do this on a gas motor but I'm pretty sure it's a complete cylinder off.

IIRC the electrical plugs (for 12V power, tach, etc) should be near perpendicular to the motor, roughly in line with the firewall.

If they hooked the plug wires up right (wrong per the book), it could technically work.

Still, it's not normal and I don't see why it would need to be "special".

Yes he's off slightly clockwise from the traditional position but like you said it can still work if wired correctly and the rotor is stabbed in the correct orientation for the "off" cap position.

 

[paratrooper307]

Get yourself a timing tape for the balancer too. They're about 4-8 bucks and make verifying initial timing and total advance much easier and more accurate than trying to use the marker and timing tab if you don't have a dial back timing light (good ones can be pricey).

 

[Kaiser85]

The firing order is correct. I need to get a timing light and verify it all. I blindly turned the dostributor counter-clockwise, (slightly advancing the ignition timing??) And the idle speed increased, and seemed smoother. This was with a cool engine, and i noticed when up to operating temp, it idles like poo

 

[warwgn]

your retarted!! lol not you the timing, I would rotate it counter clock wise so your number one plug as indicated is in line with the arrow I drew in. that should put you in the 10* advanced range about.

it is possible your a tooth off when it was stabbed but I would think it would be running really bad and not start.

Also hook up that electric choke 55 is cold enough to cause problems, especially if it's not tuned 100%

 

[Kaiser85]

Its a manual choke, and yeah, i installed it this morning. Also set the high idle.

Im going to replace the distributor, and will stab it.on tuesday when i have some more knowlegeible help. Ill keep yall updated on the findings

 

[Kaiser85]

How it is now.....

It starts relatively easy, idles rough (misses a tad after the slight advance) when in gear, and drives fine

 

[warwgn]

DANG!!! yep it got stabbed way off and was rewired to make it work.

 

[Kaiser85]

Yep..... JANK $HIT