Hello all,
I have a 1989 Bird, 305, Vin Code E. I am in the process of re-building my motor. Originally when I put the motor at TDC the rotor was pointing at #1 Cylinder. I installed new cam, with J&P timing gears, I even dialed in the #1 Cylinder to make sure I was at TDC. When I re-installed the dist. now the rotor points towards the brake booster. I did mark my dist to so I can line up the rotor with the mark on the dist. I really don’t think this is an issue; however I am concerned why it doesn’t point towards #1 Cylinder. I did turn the crank a few times when I had the motor broke down, is it because of the oil pump key is just off or what. Any information to calm my nerves will be greatly appreciated. I don’t want to put the rest of the motor back together until I am damn sure I am at TDC.

Thanks in Advance
Brad

 

Sure you turned the motor to TDC on #1, on the compression stroke? Maybe you caught it on the exhaust stroke. If you still have the balancer and timing plate on, make sure the timing indicator reads 0 degrees on the balancer. Then you'll know for sure you're TDC on the compression stroke on #1.

Was the crank turned at any point with the cam out of the motor? Cause as you know, the distributor runs off the cam, and the cam spins 50% the speed of the crank.

 

I have the balancer on and the mark does read TDC.

I did turn the crank with the cam out, but does it really matter when you line up the timing gears. (cam and Crank?)



Brad

 

Well the crank is keyed right? So there's only one way to get that gear on... As long as the crank was at TDC compression on #1 when you put the cam gear on and lined it up I assume you should be fine. I can't imagine why the distributor should be pointing a different direction now... What cylinder is it going towards now?

By the way, did you align the gear dots with them both up, or with the crank gear up and cam gear down?

 

Correct, the crank is keyed and the key was pointing at #1 cyl. I did aling the dots of the cam and crank, I put both dots down, to get the gear idler on, then I rototed the crank 360 deg, which put both dots up (both dots where up when I took the tiiming chain cover off when I started this project) then I dialed in #1 cylinder to get TDC. the rotor is actually pointing between #3 and #4 cylinder. BTW when both dots where up and the cam key was pointing at #5 cylinger or 9 o'clock.

I could take a pic if you like


Brad

 

Hmm....when you say you dialed in the #1 cylinder to get TDC after you aligned both dots....that was with the timing chain on right? Man....I dont know. I'm only an amateur with this stuff and it's beyond me. Have never done a cam swap myself, only a distributor swap. Did you do the cam with a degreeing wheel? Only thing that comes to mind to me is that maybe the cam is a few degrees off...I dont really know. But if you get the distributor back in and center the car at TDC on #1 and the rotor isn't pointing to fire #1...well...that's definitely going to be a problem.