So I think I installed my distributor wrong, I set the car to tdc at the 0 mark on the balancer (balancer shows atc 10 0 10 20 30 btc) dropped the distributor in with the rotor facing close to the driver side intake bolt (as per a couple videos) put the cap on and tried to start the car. It wouldn't start unless I moved the distributor pretty much all the way clockwise till the tfi module was almost making contact with the lower intake where it finally started running on it's own and would start easily. When I went to go adjust the timing to 10 degrees with my light I pulled the spout connector and it immediately died and won't start no matter where I put the distributor and I can't move the distributor anymore than it was so I put it back where it was plugged the spout back and got it running. What am I doing wrong, I know it shouldn't die with the spout out.
Distributor installed wrong
- Thread starter djj62478
- Start date
The rotor needs to be pointing at the #1 spark plug wire on the cap when installed at TDC. Have you verified that when you are at TDC on the distributor that you are actually at TDC? This involves using a positive stop device if you do not want to pull the valve cover or pull the valve cover and watch the rockers. If the balancer is the original one I would not trust it as far as I can throw it.
gkomo
now i can hopefully expect to receive the shaft
Ya I think the rotor needs to be pointing near the passenger side intake bolt (or #1 plug like aerocoupe stated), not the drivers side.
Yeah, watch a few more videos and continue to toss stuff around because it don't start, runs rough, or blows fire out of places that is not supposed to do that. Not you're fault, every engine has a basic event that makes it work, but they also have a kind of personality.
that said, you can't just put the balancer on 0* and point the rotor at an intake bolt, jamb the cap on and live happily ever after..
check each component for proper position and function,
here is how I do it,
pull all the plugs, make turning over the engine easy, find #1, we all know where that is on our cars, turn the engine by hand as you hold a finger over the #1 plug hole, make sure you're turning the engine the correct direction, I never remember so I have to look to make sure I'm goin the right way and I've done this countless times (which makes no sense in reality) still have to check myself.
when you feel the air pushing your finger, look at the balancer and you should see 0* coming around to the pointer, stop, stick a straw, or a long thin screwdriver in the #1 hole an feel for the top of the piston, let the straw or screwdriver guide you to TDC, the piston will seem like it stops for a moment, that's TDC, you can now confirm the 0* mark on the balancer, you can turn the engine back and forth to find the moment the piston stops, the balancer should be at 0* at the pointer, or at least damn close, is the balancer in the correct place? If yes move on to dropping the distributor, if no, first check timing chain slop, if minimal replace balancer.
Now install the distributor with the TFI positioned between the AC stuff amd the alternator stuff, now, about that rotor position, when removing a distributor the rotor will turn as it's lifted out, so when you drop it back in the rotor will rotate back, so you should mark the distributor where #1 plug wire is and start the rotor before your mark.
Some caps have the #1 plug wire marked with a 1 but not all.
start at TDC (confirmed!) Mark rotor postion and distributor position , remove the distributor, and you can drop it back in the same place.
Just a old guy with a lot of useless info that may or may not apply to your situation and may or may not work,
that said, you can't just put the balancer on 0* and point the rotor at an intake bolt, jamb the cap on and live happily ever after..
check each component for proper position and function,
here is how I do it,
pull all the plugs, make turning over the engine easy, find #1, we all know where that is on our cars, turn the engine by hand as you hold a finger over the #1 plug hole, make sure you're turning the engine the correct direction, I never remember so I have to look to make sure I'm goin the right way and I've done this countless times (which makes no sense in reality) still have to check myself.
when you feel the air pushing your finger, look at the balancer and you should see 0* coming around to the pointer, stop, stick a straw, or a long thin screwdriver in the #1 hole an feel for the top of the piston, let the straw or screwdriver guide you to TDC, the piston will seem like it stops for a moment, that's TDC, you can now confirm the 0* mark on the balancer, you can turn the engine back and forth to find the moment the piston stops, the balancer should be at 0* at the pointer, or at least damn close, is the balancer in the correct place? If yes move on to dropping the distributor, if no, first check timing chain slop, if minimal replace balancer.
Now install the distributor with the TFI positioned between the AC stuff amd the alternator stuff, now, about that rotor position, when removing a distributor the rotor will turn as it's lifted out, so when you drop it back in the rotor will rotate back, so you should mark the distributor where #1 plug wire is and start the rotor before your mark.
Some caps have the #1 plug wire marked with a 1 but not all.
start at TDC (confirmed!) Mark rotor postion and distributor position , remove the distributor, and you can drop it back in the same place.
Just a old guy with a lot of useless info that may or may not apply to your situation and may or may not work,
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