The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Distributor and firing Order problems on a 216

I have what I think is a 216 but I suppose it could be a 235 in a 52 Chevrolet dump truck. I changed the points in it by removing the distributor and took careful note of where the rotor was facing. Previously the truck ran but not very smoothly. After I put it in the truck popped a couple of times but wouldn't start. I left the bolt loose on the bottom of the distributor. When I replaced the points I replaced a striped screw. The new screw was just long enough where it hit the weights under the points thus causing the distributor to lift up enough to become disengage with the oil pump drive and cause my timing to be mega off. As an added bonus I dropped and broke my distributor. I also managed to have the distributor cap come unhooked from half the plug wires. I am at square one at this point. I need to redo the firing order, find TDC, and either find or fix my distributor.

I want to know which cylinder is number one, the firing order, if there is an easy way to find TDC other than to put my thumb over a spark plug hole and feel for compression, and if I have to what distributors will work for my motor. I had a distributor for a 235 full pressure motor but it didn't fit. I am pretty sure my motor is a babbit pounder but I don't know if it is a 216 or a 235.

Hy That One Guy, number one cylinder is the one at the front of the engine. The finger over the sparkplug hole is a good method for setting the engine position for distributor installation, also watch the timing marks on the flywheel in the bellhousing window. The firing order is 1,5,3,6,2,4, clockwise around the distributor cap. You can place number one wherever you want, place the engine at t.d.c., and install the distributor, make sure the tang which drives the oil pump engages the pump. You can change the distributor install position by changing the oil pump slot position with a long screwdriver, make sure the distributor seats all the way down, hope that helps.

1- remove #1 spark plug
2- turn engine over by hand ,with youre finger over the hole when you feel air pushing out
3- take a flash light and look at timing hole in bell housing
4- turn engine SLOWLY untill you see the triangle on the fly wheel
5- line up triangle to the pointer on bell housing
6- install disy so that rotor is pointed in a 12 oclock position you may have to move the oil pump alittle one way or the other use a screw driver
7- install disy cap and install #1 plug wire at the 12 oclock position
8- install all the other spark plug wires in a clock wise order
1-5-3-6-2-4- 1 being front and 6 being the last one
9- it should start you are going to have to set the timing with a timing light to the ball on the fly wheel after you get it started

Put an ad in parts wanted 216 disy's are out there.

Pete

hey that one guy I've got dizzy body cheap if needed? pm me.

Thanks everyone for the info. Where is the timing hole? Is it on top of the bell-housing?

Hy That One Guy, the timing hole in the bellhousing is on the forward facing side, beside the starter, hope that helps.

12 o'clock from the side of the car, or from the front of the car?

12 o'clock from the side of the car, or from the front of the car? [/quote]


Lookin down on the dist. 12 is pointin at the pushrod cover.

Jeremy