Help ASAP: Dizzy clocking

[Oilbrnr]

So, I was not happy with my idle, and figured some of it was the 177k dist. I got a reman. at NAPA yesterday and proceeded to replace the old one. When I removed the cap, I found a spring, and what was left of a carbon center contact. I really can't believe it ran as well as it did!

I labeled all the wires and replaced them correctly, I'm pretty sure I got the dizzy in the correct orientation, and I timed it, but the motor is sluggish and will do a lean backfire on WOT. So I must be off.

Should the rotor point towards #1 on TDC?

 

[4X4HIGH]

It depends on where someone may have set it in in the past. The quickest way to figure out where it needs to be is to put the #1 cylinder on TDC and see what the rotor points then make that where your #1 wire goes and run the firing order from that point. I always set it up though so that the #1 wire is the first wire forward of where the ignition wire clips into the cap (i'm assuming you have the large cap HEI).

 

[Oilbrnr]

Makes sense, thanks!

 

[Blue85]

Of course you can be 180 degrees off by just finding TDC #1.

My guess is that this distributor is off by 1 tooth, so the rotor is not lining up with the plug tower at higher advance.

 

[4X4HIGH]

Of course you can be 180 degrees off by just finding TDC #1.

I would assume that people know that you want the compression stroke when looking for TDC. Afterall, when people refer to TDC they almost always mean compression stroke.

 

[Oilbrnr]

I used a compression gauge and bumped the starter until I was on TDC compression. Chalked the degree indicator and notch on harmonic. Rotor was pointing to where the number one wire was, which is the second tower clockwise from the coil wires.

Start it up, set timing at 8* BTDC (which I'm assuming is to the right or passenger side of zero on the scale) with the vacuum advance disconnected (and port plugged).

And it runs like crap! Not much power, then as it warms up, backfires through the carb. Double then triple check firing order. Changed coil. Still the same.

In desperation last night, I really advanced it (turning counter clockwise) and the power came back and no more backfire, however, the mark on the harmonic is almost at 12 o'clock, meaning way left of the indicator. I checked the rubber on the balancer and there are no cracks or other indications of slippage.

This is a crate Goodwrench 350 with under 30k on it.

Any other ideas?