Need help to reinstall my distributor.

65springtime · Feb 1, 2011

I am cleaning, painting, and replacing parts and bolts etc in the engine compartment. I know the fireing order of the 289 and just do not know the best way (right way) to reinstall the distributor. This is on my 1965 Mustang Coupe C-Code engine. Also does the fuel pump just slide back in or is there a trick for this also? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I took all off to repaint the engine and engine bay. Now will be needing to put back on. I did do the right thing and marked everthing and put in zip lock bags and took pictures. Thanks, John

Wicked65 · Feb 1, 2011

pull the number 1 spark plug, and hand turn the motor over via a big wrench untill you get on the compression stroke. You will feel a lot of air coming out of the plug hole at that point, (enough to where it pushes your finger off the hole. Then watch the degree's on your crank till it hits zero. You should then be at Top dead center. Once you find the compression stroke, you can also use a zip tie or pencil ect. and "feel" the piston as its coming up and as it starts to drop. Just another way to find tdc. If you marked your dizzy on both the base of it and the block, it should be easy to see where it needs to go. Make sure your rotor is pointing toward your number 1 on your cap. Your pump can just go back in.

65springtime · Feb 2, 2011

What is the "dizzy". Never heard that one. By the way, thanks Wicked65.

65springtime · Feb 2, 2011

Wow, I see why you call it "Wicked65". Just took a look at your car and all I can say is-"It is Wicked"! I bet that thing can fly. Love it.

RGS0907 · Feb 2, 2011

65springtime said:
What is the "dizzy". Never heard that one. By the way, thanks Wicked65.

Dizzy = Distributor. And the reason that you need to go through all of that is because it is a four stroke engine & if you don't identify top dead center, you may have the roter pointing to the #1 cylinder & still be 180 degrees off. I usually use a broom straw to test for the top of the cylinder to be sure not to damage anything.

65springtime · Feb 2, 2011

OK, thanks. Just learned a new word.

65springtime · Feb 2, 2011

Wicked65 said:
Make sure your rotor is pointing toward your number 1 on your cap. Your pump can just go back in.

Point the rotor to the number one on the cap or point to the number one on the block? I guessl you can tell I am no mechanic. I do my best to keep them in business.

hhead · Feb 2, 2011

Know your firing order. Rotation is ccw. When you find TDC, and you drop the dizzy in. The rotor points to no.1 on the cap.
There's a pic of an early ford v-8 order
ford 302 firing order for distributorcap

It doesn't really matter where no. 1 is located on the cap. Plug wire length might have more to do with where no. 1 is. As long as you're on TDC of #1 and the rotor points to #1 on the cap.

65springtime · Feb 2, 2011

OK, thanks. Appreciate the help. I got it now. John
I just love pictures....

Need help to reinstall my distributor.

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