I recently swapped in a new cam and Holley Stealthram intake, only to find out that I installed the distributor 180* out of phase (engine cranks, but won't fire). When I installed the cam, I used the dot-to-dot method, thinking that would be #1 TDC...The rotor is now pointing to #6 plug wire when #1 cylinder is at true TDC.

My concern is that I adjusted the valves using the same 180* out of phase timing, so are the valves now automatically "out of adjustment"? I would like to know before I start the engine once I fix the distributor error...

Perhaps adjusting the valves one last time couldn't hurt?

 

If you used the distributor position to determine engine position when you adjusted the valves, they aren't right.

Run them again.

 

I dont know if there's a sticky somewhere but there should be on this matter since it's easy to do this if you've never dealt with pulling a distributor before.

The easiest way I know of is to pull #1 plug out, stick you finger in the hole while a buddy slowly bumpes the engine over. As soon as it starts to build compression and push air past your finger you know it's phased correctly and you should be able to turn the bottom pulley by hand to line up TCD with the timing mark, then all you have to do is get the distributor to fully seat. Sometimes it taked you pushing down on the distributor while the buddy agains bumps over the engine until the bottom of the distributor and the oil pump shaft line up and then the distributor should fall down into place.

You can then repeat the process of sticking your finger in the #1 hole and have the motor bumped over to bring it up on TDC compression, notice the position of the rotor and then place you cap back on the distributor-it should be pointing at the number one spot on the dis. cap. Most motors it drops right in, but we've also had our fair share of repeating this process a few times with the distributor being a tooth of so off. Takes a little patience is all.

 

Just listen to the others.

your distributer is indpendent of the valves. So your valve lash would only be wrong if you looked at the rotor on the distributer to determine TDC.

 

Which is exactly what I think I did (been a looong time) when I adjusted the valves...I used the GM Service Manual for reference, which instructs you to use the #1 TDC - do these valves / #6 TDC - do these valves method. I positioned the sprockets dot-to-dot when I installed the cam and then went on to adjust the valves, unknowingly setting them when they were 180* out of phase from where they should have been...

I'm not going to take a chance - I will adjust the valves again