And also I was reading that the distributor could be 180 how do you tell that
In a 4 stroke engine there are 2 TDC Top Dead Center positions during the cycle.
TDC on the ignition stroke is when we want the distributor to fire on #1.
If you are "180 out" as people say, you have the #1 at TDC on the exhaust stroke but the distributor is trying to fire.
Will not run.
Remove all 8 spark plugs (makes turning engine easier)
Remove the driver side valve cover.
Observe the rocker arms of number 1 cyl.
Rotate engine in direction it runs (look at fan pitch for clue).
Turn until timing mark on balancer lines up with TDC mark on timing cover.
Check the rocker arms for #1 cyl.
If they are not depressed, they are on the base circle of the cam, and this is TDC #1 cyl on the firing stroke.
If one of the rocker arms is down, you are at TDC#1 on the exhaust stroke. ("180 out")
Keep turning until you are sure you have both valves closed and piston on #1 at TDC.
Line up the timing mark carfully.
NOW you can determine which wire is #1 on the cap because the rotor is pointing right at it.
Turn the distributor till it points right at a contact if it isnt already.
Carefully look under the rotor and see if all 8 points of the hall effect pickup line up together.
That is when the HEI will fire.
That is your #1 wire regardless of where the vacuum can is.
You can pull the distributor and restab it to put the vacuum pod in a different direction if you want.
As long as you dont turn the motor, where ever you move that distributor housing to point a rotor at a contact makes that contact #1 wire.
Then wire each contact on the cap after that in the firing order.
Once #1 wire is on, and you have those peaks in the hall effect pickup under the rotor lined up, tighten the distributor down.
Now you can turn the engine over in the direction of operation (look at the fan) and the next contact the rotor meets will be #8 wire, the next #4 wire.. 36572.
(You don't have to keep turning the engine over to wire the cap. I always teach people to do it that way for #1 and #8 just so there can be no mistake on which way the distributor turns)
Now this will only get you in the ballpark.
You need a timing light to properly set timing.
But if you are careful about getting the distributor hall effect peaks lined up, as i stated above, when you set #1, your timing will be close enough to run.
But have your light ready to go.
Once it starts, you will want to refine timing.
It will be off a little.
Oh yeah, don't forget that all the odd cylinders 1357 are on the drivers side.
Even cylinders 2468 on the pass. side.
I have been editing the crap out of this.
It is one of those things that is far easier to show in person than explain in words.
I hope it makes sense.
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