I attempted to do a TPI conversion with no success and I switched back. Now my timing is way off and all I get are flaming backfires out of the throttle body and it won't start! I need to know what the proper procedure is for setting timing and which post on my distributor is for the #1 Spark plug? I made the mistake of not marking the cap before I pulled the wires off. Here's my setup, 1992 Camaro RS 305 TBI with automatic Trans. BTW, I'll have a nice clean TPI setup for sale soon.

 

Sounds like you have the distributor installed 180° out of phase; such that it's sending spark to #1 when it's at the end of the exhaust stroke and the beginning of the intake stroke, which is of course the OTHER instance of #1 TDC that occurs during one complete engine cycle, BESIDES the one that's #1 firing.

The right way to fix it is to lift the dist an inch or so, rotate it exactly 180° (½ revolution) from wherever it now is, and drop it back in.

Correct #1 terminal location is the one on the very front of the cap, just to the driver's side of center. #8 (next in the firing order) is in the very front just to the pass side of center; #4 (next) is pointed about to the right front wheel; etc.

 

sofakingdom is right ... except you don't have to be 180 out to produce this behavior. I ran into this when I was installed a rebuilt engine in my 91 RS ... but I was no where near 180 or even 90 degrees off. Bring #1 to compression stroke TDC, pop off the distributor cap and note where the rotor is pointing. Conceptually, your #1 plug wire needs to go on closest cap terminal to that position. Then just hook the rest up in normal firing sequence and adjust timing as normal. I like to get it set up so if the crankshaft is at 12 o'clock #1 cap terminal is at 11 o'clock ... otherwise I don't have enough slack in the wiring harness to comfortably adjust timing. Slack requirements may make you reposition the distributor like sofakingdom suggests ... and if you are 180 or thereabouts off you'll probably have no choice. Sofakingdom's description of the position of things in the normal setup is correct.

Bottom line ... see where that rotor is at #1 TDC compression stroke before rotating it 180 ... you may need to rotate it less than that or you may be able to get by with just repositioning the plug wires. Depends on how far off you are.

 

Thanks everyone, it turns out that I was a little more than 180 deg. off. I've got it close now but it's still pinging quite a bit and I'm taking it by Autozone and have them put a light on it out so I can dial it in.

 

Perhaps this was part of your TPI woes?

 

yea man, dont give up. give it a try again.

 

Besides the risk of a fire [just be ready] I wouldn't change a thing until you can borrow someone camcorder and get some footage of it throwing flames.

Even if on VHS tape, I can tranfer it for ya into DVD then ripped for computer use.

Ya know how popular them kind of vids are???

Think I was standing in the rain to much today puttin in my new Dizzy

 

As much as I'd love to, because believe me it was quite spectacular, my wife almost had a melt down, my kids ran away screaming and crying, and I could'nt get my dog to stop barking! I also got nailed by the coil while I was trying to get the dist to drop onto the cam, my whole arm went tingly and I felt like I smashed my not so funny bone! I'm just happy to have it running again!

 

I'm sure it was a contributing factor, but I do know that the fuel pump does'nt push enough pressure and I'm out of time and cash, so back to stock and I've listed the TPI setup on ebay. Thanks