The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Distributor installation

49 3100 Original.

I pulled my distributor a while back to prime the oil pump. I guess I did not mark it good enough, and I think it is out of time. Does the distributor have to be replaced in EXACTLY the same position (tooth location). WHat happens if you are a few teeth off of the original position?? I cant get it to start at all. And if I am off how do I realign it??

Thanks
Brian

Welcome to the Stovebolt bhaley
Take a jumper wire and ground the end of the coil wire that goes to the distributor cap (not always necessary but it is a good practice). Pull your sparkplugs and remove the distributor cap.
With #1 plug out and your thumb over the hole, carefully bump the engine over until your thumb feels the compression pressure pushing it off the #1 plug hole.From that point, watch the flywheel through the hole in the bellhousing just above the starter. You will be looking for what looks like a small steel ball or a circle which is in the flywheel itself. Slowly move the flywheel until you see the steel ball/circle line up with the pointer in the hole in the bellhousing. Once that is lined up look at the rotor on the distributor to see where it is pointing. install all the sparkplugs. Start #1 plug wire at that point on the distributor cap and in a clockwise direction set the plug wires 1,5,3,6,2,4. reconnect the coil wire which you grounded previously
Your engine should be in the correct position to run. Make sure you have your points set to a gap of about 18 thousandths.

Thanks,

I tried that, but still having trouble getting her started. I have fire all the way around. My points are pretty worn, I will try replacing them and see what happens.

Brian

Bhaley Take it from someone that has been there and had trobles too. First thing is to make sure you have #1 at TDC. When I was trying to get my distributor back in I was useing the WRONG sight hole (on the drivers side) and the timing was way off!

So make sure you are using the hole over the started. I ended up taking off the Inspection plate cover for the Clutch/flywheel and physically rotating the engine by hand. Once I got the engine in the right location I tried and tried to get the distributor in the right location. Mechanic has it right but here is a tip that may help. Take a white crayon and "mark" the ball or circle with this. When you get your truck started and fine tune the timeing with a light this will be a Huge help.

The other think is this make your self some sort of visual reference Cap to enging part or body part. If it dosen't start rotate the distributor (with out pulling it our) just advance it or retard it an 1/8" to 1/4" inch in one direction. Try to restart. If you have someone helping you, you can try to rotate the dist while you are attempting to start. You will here it when you are getting close.

Hang in there it can be very frustrating, I know! But you will get it started I am sure of that.

Good luck and hang in there!

I ran into the same problem. Nothing magic about the positioning as long as you have enough 'play' in the distributor rotation to adjust timing.

I had to use a screwdriver to manually turn the oil pump (see slot in bottom of distributor hole) so I could get the distributor in a good position.

Finding the timing mark is essential too, I was looking at the wrong one - and chasing my tail for days.