finding TDC?

[ashman]

I'm trying to make sure my dist is stabbed in correctly. I know that at TDC the dist is supposed to point towards #1.

I made sure I was on a compression stroke (air pushing out) and went far enough to line up the timing marks but that puts the dist like this:

That didn't look right to me so I turned the engine back enough to point at #1 like so:

That puts the timing mark over towards 10 o'clock like this:

Do I have the dist stabbed in wrong, looking at the wrong things, or maybe the harmonic balancer has slipped?

 

[swamprat87]

I'm having a kind of the same problem...I alined the marks and it put my distr pointing at #1 it did try to start but I need to turn the distro more.....however problem....my base of the distro is to big an hits the intake manifold only allowing a small turn. I guess my question is can the base of the distro be turned in any direction?

 

[ryoken]

you need to put the motor back at the first pic and restab it back a tooth.. you'll need a long flatblade to turn the oil pump drive...

technically, you could just leave it as-is in the first pic and just lace it from where the rotor is pointing... people place WAY too much importance on the rotor pointing towards the #1 cylinder.. it really doesn't mean d*ck... yes, it's nice to have it set up that way, BUT it can run fine pointing in any direction as long as it's laced properly...

mentioned it before... look at the dopey move gas monkey did... eh, just rip all the plug wires off and put new ones on without notating what was going where... idjit...

 

[chulisohombre]

You can put it back the way it was and just move the number one plug wire over 1 spot clockwise. Then you will have about 20 degrees of adjustment again. As long as its a tdc you will have it on compression and the plug wire in the correct spot where the rotor is pointing it will run the same as if it was pointing at number one. Or you can testable the distributor again. It looks one tooth off if you're worried about it.

 

[ashman]

thanks guys, appreciate it.

 

[ryoken]

I feel the need to come back in here and clarify something, cuz I'm sure someones gonna come along and try to intraweb correct me....

people place WAY too much importance on the rotor pointing towards the #1 cylinder.. it really doesn't mean d*ck...

I know "correct" is pointing at #1, but the reason I make this point is cuz 1/2 of the dizzy related problems (other 1/2 being 180 out prolly) are with people being overly concerned with where it's pointing, to the point of confusing them, than actually on understanding how the dizzy operates...

or trying to take the laced cap, prior to removal and reinstalling that.. than the body is hitting something when trying to adjust timing....

Ryoken tip of the day.... when you reinstall a dizzy, save yourself the confusion, and pull all the damn wires off the cap! It seems to be one of the issues that comes up in here, people trying to make an old lacing work....

TDC
set body rotation so you'll have plenty of adjustment
notate rotor alignment
install naked cap
lace from corresponding #1 tower
vroom vroom

 

[evolve991]

I agree with Ryoken. Yank the damn wires, you should have firing order imprinted in your brain by now. Instead of Prime Numbers 18436572 should be the Universal Code for communication between intelligent species.

 

[ashman]

Instead of Prime Numbers 18436572 should be the Universal Code for communication between intelligent species.

I like it!

I did unlace the cap but wire routing when using pre-cut wires is easier if the cap is pointing generally where it should. :P

 

[ryoken]

those where just observations of this forum over the yr's, not directed at this thread per se..

and honestly, having pre-cut wires doesn't make any difference, we're talking a couple inches here between any 2 towers...

 

[sponsoredbydad]

I don't why I for the life of me can't remember this magic order. Maybe suffering from chronic C.R.S. syndrome. I have had this for years in my tool box, slips right on the carb for easy reference.

 

[Big Ray]

old guys rule!

 

[ryoken]

I don't why I for the life of me can't remember this magic order. Maybe suffering from chronic C.R.S. syndrome. I have had this for years in my tool box, slips right on the carb for easy reference.

 

[evolve991]

FINALLY!! Something a CD does better than Vinyl!!!

Pre cut wires: I've never figured out why those sets have at least one wire only 1 foot long and one at least 4 feet long
Do they think everyone has an inline 20?

 

[diesel4me]

I don't why I for the life of me can't remember this magic order. Maybe suffering from chronic C.R.S. syndrome. I have had this for years in my tool box, slips right on the carb for easy reference.

GM casted the firing order right into stock intake manifolds...but I guess if someone puts on an aftermarket aluminum one ,it might lack that vital bit of info..

If so many previous owners or mechanics had not tossed the OEM plug wire "ring thing" away,that all 8 plug wires snap into,it'd save a lot of time--its impossible to put the wires in the wrong spot with those provided you do them one at a time--I think GM even numbered the location on the ring too..I couldn't use one on my 72 K5 though,the distributor cap was too close to the firewall to let it fit,even after a massage with a hammer...

I remember having my '69 GTO fail to start and blow flames out of the carb after I did a complete "tune up"..took me awhile to figure out Pontiac used the same firing order as a Chevy--but the distributor turns the opposite direction,so it was 180 off!,,

 

[evolve991]

[I remember having my '69 GTO fail to start and blow flames out of the carb after I did a complete "tune up"..took me awhile to figure out Pontiac used the same firing order as a Chevy--but the distributor turns the opposite direction,so it was 180 off!,,]


I had a 73 Lemans and did the same thing after owning Buicks and Chevys all my life.

 

[ryoken]

try working on reverse rotation marine motors...

 

[dyeager535]

I can never describe it, but start at 18 and double it, then double again... 18, 36, 72. Only numbers left are 4 and 5, and they are in numeric order, fitting in the "gaps" between the doubled up numbers... 18, 4, 36, 5, 72

 

[ashman]

I can never describe it, but start at 18 and double it, then double again... 18, 36, 72. Only numbers left are 4 and 5, and they are in numeric order, fitting in the "gaps" between the doubled up numbers... 18, 4, 36, 5, 72

That's an interesting way to remember it. I'll try to keep that in mind next time. Although with internet on my phone having to remember anything like that isn't such a big deal.

Quick question. When the 2 timing marks on the timing gears are pointed towards each other, that is TDC right?

 

[diesel4me]

Thats depending on which service manual you look at..

My Chiltons book says the #1 piston is at TDC when the dots on the crank and cam gear are both pointing UP at 12 o'clock position,---and if they are pointing at 12 o'clock on the crank gear and the cam gear dot is directly opposite to it at 6 o'clock,its #6 piston thats at TDC..

All I know is I lined the dots up facing each other when I installed timing chains,and the engine always ran OK afterwards.....