Alright gentleman just put in new oem dizzy at tdc hand cranked engine to 0* ok i have a timing gun its an old craftsman how do i set the timing (also dont know how to use the gun 1st timer)... 1989 305 camaro tbi. oh an the distributor is shacking..? ANY feed back would be greatly appreciated

 

1) You have to make sure the mark on harmonic balancer is at 0* on the compression stroke, not the exhaust stroke. To do this, remove plug on #1 cylinder, and stick finger in the hole, then turn crank until you feel pressure building up - this is the compression stroke - then line up 0*. Might needs an extra person to do this - one to turn crank, one to feel for the pressure in the plug hole. Replace spark plug.

2) Then, you stab the dist into the intake with the rotor pointing relatively towards #1 cylinder - the rotor will turn as the distibutor is set in - it doesn't just fall in, it has to be worked in. Put the tightening hold-down bolt on the intake and hand tighten.

3) Line up a distributor terminal on the cap with the rotor - this will be #1 plug wire - run the wire from this terminal to the #1 plug. Then, follow the firing order around the dist cap attaching each wire to the corresponding plug.

4) Unplug the EST wire - it's a tan wire that comesout of the pass side wire harness, has a connector on it, then runs back into the harness. It's close to the pass side strut tower.

5) Attach the pos and neg leads of the timing light to the battery, and clamp the clamp around the #1 plug wire.

6) Start car - this is setting the BASE timing - the EST wire must be disconnected to set BASE timing otherwise the computer will take over timing adjustments and the timing will be all over the place. Set the timing to factory specs by aiming the timing light at the mark on the harmonic balancer and rotating the distributor until the mark flashes at the right setting.

7) Lock down the hold-down bolt on the distributor.

8) Shut off car, replug the EST wire, and you're set.

 

Just adding my two cents and you probably have done this, but also make sure the distributor shaft and the oil pump shaft are correctly aligned when the distributor is installed.

 

ok 1 - 3 was done last night 4-8 wasn't done but i started the car and the distributor was shaky will do timing see what happens.

 

How do you do this align the oil pump shaft w/ distributor shaft? what might be some consequences if oil pump shaft is not correctly aligned w/ distributor shaft.

 

You use a long flathead screwdriver to turn the oil-pump shaft before you install the distributor.
If out of alignment you will have problems getting the distributor installed on the correct tooth for rotor phasing.

 

I found this video by Skirkland to be very helpful: Installing distributor

 

Please click one of the Quick Reply icons in the posts above to activate Quick Reply.

 

first off i wanna thank camaronewbie, quick_trans_am, 305sbc, and 87lg4 for the help but turned out it was just the timing off by like -12* lol and i had a leaking vavle cover (replaced) and now i get the error code 32 why the hell not!!!