Distributor off?

[kpack5982]

After playing around trying to get my car started after heads/cam swap I finally got it running. Distributor was 180 off. Problem now is that it slowly starts to idle down until it dies. When I turn the distributor clockwise to advance it all the way it starts up much better and won't start at all if i retard it (turn it counter-clockwise). Would the distributor being off a tooth cause this problem? Like if I took it out and moved the rotor counter-clockwise like one tooth, that would be the right way, right? It wouldn't hurt the engine would it if that's not the problem?

 

[Mustang5L5]

More than likely that is your problem. The intake gets in the way of the dist and it can't spin all the way around. So the trick is to stab the dist. in a spot where your range of spin will put you in the correct range to set the timing.

Sometimes you'll notice it will run better as you turn it only to find the intake manifold is in the way.

That's when you need ot move it one tooth over and try again. Try using a timing light as well to make sure you really are off on the timing

 

[kpack5982]

That's kinda what I thought. problem is the car wont' stay running long enough for me to get out after starting it and get to the timing light. No one wanted to help me out so I was all by my lonesome.

 

[HISSIN50]

I'd agree also. As Mike said, restab it so the TFI harness is in about the middle of the road when you're around 10* - that gives you room to play.

Good luck.

 

[04sleeper]

I have always pulled out the number 1 spark plug and checked for the compression stroke of the cylinder with my finger by slowly turning the motor over by hand with a socket on the crank bolt.

It should be at TDC and the timing mark will be on "0". Then I stab the dizzy with the TFI facing me and the rotor facing #1 on the cap.

To get a good start point for timing I usually line up the mark on the distributor with the line on the groove on the block.

I have hit it perfectly on a number of occasions with 10 degrees timing.

Another tip is to stab the dizzy a little counterclockwise to where you want it to end up because when you stab it, it will rotate clockwise when meshing with the cam gear.

 

[vristang]

You guys have danced around this a little bit, so I just wanted to bring it up for discussion...

You can have the dist 'a tooth off' and this can cause some issues with injector timing. I'm not sure if that is the issue here or not though.

I have no idea how you would get around this with the interference issues common to the Cobra lower...???

As JT stated, the dist should be 'middle of the road' at 10*


jason