I pulled my distributor and I don't know exactly which direction the rotor was pointing (I know it was toward the front of the car, but unsure of the angle). I tried turning the engine over by hand to get it to TDC via the 5/8" bolt on the crank pulley directly in front of the harmonic balancer, but the crankshaft did not turn, the bolt only tightened. I've read online that those bolts are not designed to be used for this purpose and they strip very easily. So how am I supposed to turn the engine over? I definitely can't fit up under there to turn it at the flex plate.

Is there a way to determine (roughly) where the distributor rotor should be pointing based on the location of the timing mark on the harmonic balancer? The mark is visible from above. I'm assuming that it should be nearing the compression stroke of cylinder 1 based on the fact that the rotor was pointing toward the front of the engine, and that the timing mark is nearing the degree at which cylinder 1 previously fired before pulling the dizzy.

 

Disconnect the power wire to the distributor. Pull the number 1 spark plug. Have someone bump over the engine until you feel compression. Observe the balancer mark. If you need to line it up use a flywheel turning tool. Then install the distributor pointing towards the number 1 spot on the cap. You may need to rotate the oil pump drive shaft.

 

Spot on answer there. There is also a tool that clips from your positive battery terminal to the starter solenoid start terminal so you can bump the starter while under the hood. I usually install a compression gauge in the #1 plug hole and bump the starter until I see the gauge start building compression then rotate by hand to align the timing mark, should be easy with the plug pulled. Use a long handled flat tip screwdriver or oil prime tool to adjust the oil pump inputs shaft angle if the distributor does not drop in all the way when pointed towards the #1 terminal.

 

Is there any reason I can't bump the starter with the distributor already in place, so as it rotates it drops down to mate with the oil pump shaft once they are lined up? or will that damage the distributor/oil pump drive? I don't think I have a screw driver long enough to reach down in there.

 

Yeah, don't do that. Bad idea in a couple of ways. It could bind and break stuff that would require complete tear down to fix, just stick with finding TDC and then use a tool to manipulate the oil pump drive until everything aligns. It takes a couple tries the first time but once you have done it you will feel how it drops down when timed correctly and if you do it again it will be easier. Costs nothing but time and rewards you with a handy skill.

 

Thanks, looks like I'll be stopping by Harbor Freight this afternoon. An 8" screwdriver should be plenty long enough right?

 

Yep, an 8" long flat tip will do. If you have locking extensions for 1/4" hex drive that works as well but don't use anything that could fall down into the engine.

 

Yes you can do that. It works fine. Nothing will bind, the sky won't fall, people have done it since there were small block Chevys.