Timing help car wont start just replaced distributor

mat82284

Member
Jul 31, 2003
889
1
16
I just pulled out my old one and put in a new one and my car wont start i have a timing light but it doesnt work since it doesnt start car did run before. also which way am i supposed to turn it for more timeing i know its clockwise for the top but what is it for the teeth i think it way below 10* which way to make it go back up?
 
Take the coil wire out of the distributor. Pull #1 plug, put your finger in the spark plug hole. Have someone crank the engine until it starts to blow air past your finger. Stop cranking, turn the engine by hand (breaker bar on the harmonic balancer bolt, or put the car in gear and push) until the TDC mark on the harmonic balancer lines up with the pointer on the passenger side of the engine. Loose the distributor hold down bolt, remove the clamp, cap and wires, disconnect the wiring harness. Pull the distributor straight up.

The following re-install depends on the engine being lined up as in the previous instructions.
To re-install, turn the distributor rotor to point to #1 cylinder position on the cap. The#1 position is about 11 o'clock if 6 o' clock is the front of the engine. Line the rotor up with it pointing at the #1 spark plug position on the cap and drop it in: you may have to twist the shaft some to get it to engage the oil pump shaft. Then remove the SPOUT connector plug, and use a timing light to set the timing. The SPOUT is the dangling connector on the distributor harness on stangs made prior to 94 and with a computer controlled engine. 10* is stock for most 5.0s' 12*-14* is good for more pep if you are not into NO2 or power adders.
 
i could be wrong, but i think with cars that wont start, ive used an inductive timing light to see if i had spark (and it worked even though the car would not catch). i would think the strong TFI ignition would spark even though not starting - sound right, JRichker?

so he should have spark, even if his dizzy is off 180, etc, right? i wanted to toss this out, in case the dizzy is stabbed correctly but another ancillary ignition component is at fault.

good luck.