I just can't figure this damn thing out. I started this a few months ago and i'm finishing up odds and ends. I put a new performer battleship and carb as well as a new dist, computer removal and all that junk. I've started the motor ran fine. did oil change; but the dist. horn was facing the drivers side headlight and the sparkplug wires and other crap were roasting on the exhaust manifold, so i figure new plug wires, i'd pull up the distributor and plunk it down proper, find tdc #1 and retime. now i screwed it good. it just fires a piston and dies. i've fiddled with the timing but to no avail. proper firing order. i am absolutely sire its not 180 out. when it chugs, should i run over to the carb and crank some gas in there or is it something else? iv'e turned that dist at least 20 degrees either way.

 

Verify you TDC and compression stroke, then try the distributor position again. It's so easy to get the distributor installed out of position, I can even do it in my sleep.

 

Agreed, re-do the distributor, and check the gap on your spark plugs.

 

may be wrong here,but if the "distributor horn"you are referring to is the vaccum advance canister shouldn't it be facing the passenger side just in front of the hood hinge?sounds like you are 180 out to me.
Eric

 

well it wasn't out 180 but quite a few degrees. the canister now faces the front of the car. it works alright, just looks strange. took it for a test flight up to 80km/h. thats when the gas pedal stuck to the floor . had to shut it off at about 6500rpm. i hope that doesn't hurt things.