I have the distributor firmly seated on the manifold with the rotor in reference to the last time it fired.

Question is about the base where the distributor module sits on. It does spin both ways but does it affect the TIMING??? I don't have it locked down to where it was originally yet but I want to make sure because its terribly tight down there without taking out the remote mounted coil and fuel rail. I think I'll lock it down where the female dist module plugs are facing towards the driver. I just want to be clear and understand the original orientation anytime I do these in the future.

Below are pictures of what I'm talking about: ( FYI: I wont leave the 5.5mm driver in the cap LOL )

1st pic- I feel I should lock it down this way...I hope I'm in the ballpark.

2nd pic- Or does it matter? I know the male plugs going into the dist module would interfere against the firewall.

 

Yes, the orientation of the body of the distributor definitely affects timing. In fact, that's how you adjust the timing. I assume you have the rotor pointed the same way it was when you pulled it out (and that the engine was not turned since then). Now you need to put the body of the distributor back in the same orientation it was originally as well. You won't get it perfect, but you need to get it reasonably close. Finial timing is set with a timing gun (using factory base timing setting procedure) with the engine running.

 

That first picture looks pretty close, on my engine the screw that holds the cap on is pointed right at the middle of the 5/7 intake ports.

 

Ok thanks for the replies, it's snug now with the gasket in place which I originally forgot to install.

I saw some marks worn down to where the distributor clamp fork ends used to sit on the distributor shaft base. I used that and bolted it down tightly.

Since it's very confined there, is there a special tool to adjust that particular distributor hold down clamp bolt when I do timing? Especially when I have everything together soon.

Timing on the distributor and timing with a gun...I'd like a link or some clarification on these procedures. Back to garage duty.....