TDC and distributor question!

beanplant · Sep 9, 2004

Okay, I have NO idea how to put a distributor in apparently lol. Could have have some people describe to me in very veryspecific details on how to put it in properly? I also need a timing tab I forgot to pickup at work. Pictures would be awesome, and descriptions are great! Thanks guys! I'm a newb.... sorry

ForceFed70 · Sep 9, 2004

Wow, you're asking alot...

Do you not have a repair manual?

67bluestang · Sep 9, 2004

Remove #1 plug, put your finger over the hole and bump the motor over until you feel the compression push your finger away. Stop there and look for the timing marks on the balancer. Be sure you have the timing tab installed first. Then either bump the starter or move it with a breaker bar to line up the "O" to the timing tab pointer. Wherever #1 is on your dist. cap, mark a line on the housing of the distributor. Drop the distributor in with the rotor pointing toward the mark on the housing. If it doesn't drop all the way down, keep pressure on the distributor housing and bump the starter over to engage the oil pump shaft.
Sounds simple, huh?
The other way is if you have the valve covers off. Bump the motor over and watch the intake valve. When it goes down and comes back up, watch for the timing marks on the balancer to come up. Then do the rest of the above.

Ozsum2 · Sep 9, 2004

I use a #2 pencil and watch it come out of the #1 plug hole until it stops to find TDC.

Roddster67 · Sep 9, 2004

67bluestang said:
Remove #1 plug, put your finger over the hole and bump the motor over until you feel the compression push your finger away. Stop there and look for the timing marks on the balancer. Be sure you have the timing tab installed first. Then either bump the starter or move it with a breaker bar to line up the "O" to the timing tab pointer. Wherever #1 is on your dist. cap, mark a line on the housing of the distributor. Drop the distributor in with the rotor pointing toward the mark on the housing. If it doesn't drop all the way down, keep pressure on the distributor housing and bump the starter over to engage the oil pump shaft.
Sounds simple, huh?
The other way is if you have the valve covers off. Bump the motor over and watch the intake valve. When it goes down and comes back up, watch for the timing marks on the balancer to come up. Then do the rest of the above.

You forgot to tell him which sparkplug was #1 (Front passenger side)
If it doesn't drop in when you line the mark up with the rotor exactly, try turning the rotor a little to either side to let it more easily mesh with the cam gear

none67 · Sep 9, 2004

Ozsum2 said:
I use a #2 pencil and watch it come out of the #1 plug hole until it stops to find TDC.

but be very sure that its not already sharpened. lead in a cyl. is not good. i find a bent cloths hanger works fine, as long its not shap enough to scratch the cyl. wall. but the bumping the engine over with your finger just isn't worth trying it. atleast for me it wasn't anyway.

VictorII · Sep 9, 2004

beanplant said:
Okay, I have NO idea how to put a distributor in apparently lol. Could have have some people describe to me in very veryspecific details on how to put it in properly? I also need a timing tab I forgot to pickup at work. Pictures would be awesome, and descriptions are great! Thanks guys! I'm a newb.... sorry

After ensuring that the no. 1 piston is on the firing stroke, gently drop the dizzy body into the hole, makng sure that the rotor points near the no. 1 spark plug tower on the cap. I have the most trouble lining the oil pump driveshaft. I use a 1/4" drive socket (I forget the size, but 5/16 or 3/8 comes to mind) to move it a little bit each time it doesn't drop all the way in. It is trial and error. Stay with it and be patient. You also don't want to drop the dizzy in with the vacuum advance canister too close to the thermostat housing so you can't advance far enough when you set the timing. This is a good start point. It is also to set it in place 180 degrees out, so if you are sure all is ok and it still doesn't fire, gently pull it and rotate the dizzy shaft 180 degrees. But if you make sure the timing point is close to the timing indicator you should be good to go. Make sure the socket is clean so the shaft doesn't come out with it.

beanplant · Sep 9, 2004

Thanks a ton guys! You're awesome. I think I might be able to do it now

-Shaun

Ozsum2 · Sep 9, 2004

none67 said:
but be very sure that its not already sharpened. lead in a cyl. is not good. i find a bent cloths hanger works fine, as long its not shap enough to scratch the cyl. wall. but the bumping the engine over with your finger just isn't worth trying it. atleast for me it wasn't anyway.

Are you serious? The graphite is soft and if someone was to use a sharpened pencil, it would just be blown out the valves. The point is, you have an object to watch be it a pencil or a stick off the neighbors' tree.

MustangPaul · Sep 9, 2004

Just, whatever you do, don't run with that pencil, point up, in your hand. You'll fall and poke an eye out.

Thank you, Miss Efrid--my first grade teacher--where ever you are!

TDC and distributor question!

beanplant

ForceFed70

That's why they call it "dope"

67bluestang

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Ozsum2

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Roddster67

none67

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VictorII

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beanplant

Ozsum2

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