Hey guys im working on my prodject. Im having a hard time starting her up. i think my distributor is not aligned correctly. i didnt mark it. i forgot to when taking out the old stock distributor. can any1 help me. i looked for info and tryed what they say but nothing works maybe im doing it worng. can any1 help me and point me in the right direction. tell me how to align the rotor and wires and tdc please. thank you

 

Turn the engine over until it's at TDC #1 with both the #1 intake and exhaust valves closed. Drop the distributor in, it'll only fully seat in two positions because of the oil pump drive tang. You can turn the oil pump drive with a long screwdriver until you get the rotor in the position you like, or you can just put it in however. Regardless, whatever terminal on the cap the rotor is pointing to with the distributor down and the engine at TDC firing is the #1 terminal. Put the plug wires on in order from there. Start the engine and time it with a light.

 

Textbook kind of nice. Good job explaining that. But how do you determine TDC?

 

With the timing marks.

 

yeah im that dumb... how do i do that?

 

Turn the engine over by hand or bump it with the starter until the timing mark on the balancer is aligned with the timing comb.

 

Do you have to do anything else to make sure its TDC, or is that it? Just line up the make on the comb?

 

Great job explaining that to me. I want to know do you have to take out all the plugs or just the first cylinder??

2. which cylinder should the rotor from distro. align up with??

I think i did that. had the wires correct. but it would take me like 10 mins to start the car, moving the cap adv. and retard to get her to start. i know sumthing is completely wrong but cant figure it out.

 

After you get it to TDC and set the dizzy in, you have to unplug the EST wire (I think is what it is called).
If I remeber correctly this keeps it from retarding or advancing the timing so you can set the timing with a timing light.
Once you have it set plug it back in.
Haven't timed mine yet, but the plug should look similar to the O2 plug.

 

yes thank you i know all about that part, im still confused about where to set the distro and oil pump primer

 

It's been a while so I will try to explain the best I can think of at the moment.
So long as your at TDC, the oil pump primer should be fine. Should turn with the engine. Set the dizzy in. Keep in orented the same direction the old one was. Then rotate the housing to lineup the rotor with the 1 plug wire with the rotor.
The rotor shaft will only go 2 ways. In or 180 off in. The rest should be adjusted in the housing.

 

You don't have to take any of the plugs out.

What do you mean by "what cylinder"? at TDC #1 firing, the rotor points at the #1 terminal on the cap.

 

well i cant turn the engine with a socket and bar without removing a plug cuz of the compresshion. also as far as the rotor. where ever it points thats where i start my wiring??? in firing order?

 

You shoudn't be turning the engine over with a socket on the crank bolt anyway. If you can't turn it over by hand, try bumping it over with the starter.

Wherever the rotor points is the #1 terminal, and you start wiring from there in the usual order.

If you want to, you can get everything aligned so that the rotor is pointing to the same #1 terminal as it was when it came from the factory,, but if you're frustrated and just want to get the thing to run again then it doesn't matter.

 

Im trying to get it to factory.

Here is my deal. I take out the distrib. i have it on my car. now what do i do??? explain what i do in order. and i will go and try it.

 

Drop the distributor in and note the rotor position. If it's not in the right spot (pointing towards the front drivers side corner of the car, more or less), pull it back out, reach down the distributor hole with a long, large flat-bladed screwdriver, and turn the oil pump drive shaft. Drop the distributor back in and check the rotor position again. Repeat as necessary.

 

If you just pulled the dizzy and didn't turn the motor, you can just put the new one in. Worse case it will be 180 off. In that case pull it turn it 180, and redrop it.

If you turned it, you don't have to pull the plugs, but you can if you want.
Get the left front #1 clyinder at TDC. Then drop your dizzy in. The rotor should be pointing towards the left front corner of the car. (general idea) With the cap on it should point at the #1 terminal on the cap. If it's not pointing in the right spot you will have to pull the dizzy and turn the rotor until it's close. From their you should be able to turn the housing to get it on.
Then put everything else you have taken apart back together, unplug the EST wire, fire it up, and set with a timing light.
Plug your EST wire back in and drive it.

 

Not if it's a different distributor. It won't have the same pump-drive-to-gear-to-rotor phasing.

 

Its a wannabe MSD dizzy. its brand new, and better performance than stock. Sooo i will try tomm what aperion has said. thank you for the info guys.

 

My bad, I knew that too.
Got to start with TDC.

 

what if i dont have a marker to ttell me im at TDC? if i take out plug 1 stick a straw in the hole. TDC is when the piston is all the way up or down???

 

All the way up.
But you have to make sure it up on the compression stroke. You have to remeber the piston hit's TDC twice for one cycle.
If not your dizzy will be 180 off.
You can put your finger over the plug hole, and rotat the engine. When it blows your finger off you are on the compression stroke.
Then use a straw and find your highest spot. (TDC)

 

Thank you. That's what I thought. I thought I had it right but it was off so I will try again. I will be doing that. Thank you again soo much for the help.