Distributor Installation Question

[johnsstang04]

I installed a rebuilt distributor and now I can get the car started... I've done this before so I don't understand what's going wrong.

Once the distributor was installed I set the engine at TDC and wired the cap accordingly. I tried to set the distributor to about 10 degrees advance. At first I thought the pertronix ignition went bad, but I'm getting spark at the plugs.

Is it possible that I have it wired wrong? I've always been under the assumption that you find TDC and the rotor position corresponds to #1, then wire counterclockwise

Currently the car just keeps cranking over with no sounds of ignition. My next step is to install a set of points.

 

[Fast63]

did you make sure the firing order is correct? remember the rotor turns counter clockwise as well. Turning the distributor clockwise will advance it. If you're getting spark, your points should be ok, but you can double check them.

 

[johnsstang04]

Yep... I wired it counterclockwise and the firing order is correct. I pulled out the pertronix ignition and replaced with points. I'm getting spark but it still won't start.

I'm guessing that the position I assumed to be TDC actually isn't, but it's definitely the position the rotor is pointing to when the balancer shows TDC.

The distributor is from a '65 289 and I'm installing it on a '68 302, although I don't think that should make any difference.

 

[ashford]

the crank makes 2 revolutions to the dizzy's 1 revolution. you are more than likely to be 180 degrees off on the dizzy. you can either pull out the dizzy and give it a half turn, or move your wires half way around.

 

[krash kendall]

Ditto on Ashford. You're probably 180-out.

 

[johnsstang04]

Thanks... that was exactly the problem. I completely forgot the 180 degrees on the dist. Car runs great now.

 

[chromedog]

ahother way to varify 180 out is to take your rotor to the parts store, and match it up with a mopar points rotor (i cant recall if it is for a small block, big block, or raised big block mopar)... thay will look the same, except the key that locks onto the shaft is 180 out. drop the mopar rotor onto your dizzy shaft, button everything up, and see if the engine fires. a friend of mine who does a lot of small block fords keeps one in his tool box for this reason...

 

[yeloxr7]

You need to set the engine at TDC on the #1 compression stroke, then drop the distributor (aagh, not dizzy....), pointing to #1 but allowing for rotation as the gear engages as it drops in.

 

[RGS0907]

ahother way to varify 180 out is to take your rotor to the parts store, and match it up with a mopar points rotor (i cant recall if it is for a small block, big block, or raised big block mopar)... thay will look the same, except the key that locks onto the shaft is 180 out. drop the mopar rotor onto your dizzy shaft, button everything up, and see if the engine fires. a friend of mine who does a lot of small block fords keeps one in his tool box for this reason...

This is a great idea, I had that 180 degree off problem many years ago & it's made me nervous about pulling the distributor ever since. I'm still not clear how it can be off by 180 if you never crank the motor with the distributor out of the car.