I've been taking apart the top of the motor since 9/02 (I have two kids and only get to work on it in the wee hours on the weekend). Yesterday, it started. I changed the timing chain and then rotated the motor to #1 TDC (both dots at 12). I drop in the dist and ran plug #1 to where the rotor was pointing (and followed the firing order from there). When I initially tried to start the car it wouldn't. I hadn't tightened down the dist and my friend turned it as I tried to start the car. Every turn got closer until it finally fired up. The thing is, my friend said he turned the dist about a quarter turn before the car started (and idled). What does this mean? Why so far (or is this not that far)? What do I need to do now? Am I in the ballpark. I have a trusted mechanic that can give the car the once over. I just need to be able to drive it to him (about 2 miles away). This is my first project and I just want to make sure I'm on the right track. Let me know what other info is necessary to make recommendations. Car is a 305 - totally stock. I wouldn't have even gotten this far without you guys. Thanks.

Kevin

 

Here's the way a stock SBC is set up:



If your wires are a little off the stock positions, it's not a serious issue as long as it runs corectly and you have enough extra wiring to be able to pivot the distributor to set the timing.

 

So when I put my dist in, the rotor was pointing where the 8 plug was as per the diagram. I connected plug 1 there and then followed the firing order. Was that OK? The fact that I had to turn the dist a a quarter turn is not a problem? Should I pull the dist and get it to point EXACTLY as the diagram? I didn't think that made a difference as long as the rotor pointed to where the #1 plug was with cyl 1 at TDC. I guess the crux of my question is, can I turn the dist until I run right and then tighten it down, and I'm good? Or does that cure the symptom and not the cause?

Kevin

 

GTA,

It sounds like you installed it a tooth or two from dead-on, but it doesn't matter since you adjusted the position of the wires. It won't be any problem at all as long as the wires are not stretched/strained to reach the proper terminals.