Labor Day Putting down your wrenches or time for MORE wrenching? 
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on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down with Ads! Again, thanks! | | | | Joined: May 2004 Posts: 150 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: May 2004 Posts: 150 | I've read several posts/tips about installing the distributor with teeth lined up, etc. What I don't understand is, if you drop in the distributor with distributor wire that goes to (-) of coil facing away from the engine, THEN get TDC and wire plugs accordingly (with #1 wire adjacent to rotor), does it matter that, as several posts have stated, the distributor is a tooth or two off? I didn't think that would matter if you static timed the engine. | | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,107 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,107 | | | | | | Joined: May 2004 Posts: 150 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: May 2004 Posts: 150 | Thanks, but, again, is that necessary if, once you find TDC, you drop the distributor in and make sure that the #1 spark plug wire is adjacent to the rotor? | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | Thanks, but, again, is that necessary if, once you find TDC, you drop the distributor in and make sure that the #1 spark plug wire is adjacent to the rotor? You are correct. How did you find #1 TDC (on firing/compression stroke)? | | | | | Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 85 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 85 | What i do is.. find TDC drop the dist in. Match the rotor up to the cap bu turning the distibutor. Tighten down enough that you can move the dist without it moving back. Start then time. Have done it NUMEROUS times with my muscle cars without issue. THe only issue i had has with being off a couple teeth is with the vaccuum advance interferring withteh block when trying to time the engine.
Also what we do to quickly get TDC is remove spark plug and put finger over hole. Turn engine until finger is forced off the hole from the pressure. you are real close to TDC at that point.
Last edited by Zleviticus; 02/07/2011 10:52 PM.
52 Chevy 1/2 ton - work in progress 65 Mustang coupe - work not in progress  67 Mustang GT convertibile 67 Camaro RS/SS We are now even with fords and chevys. Now i need a mopar. Hahahahahahahahaha
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,107 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,107 | Thanks, but, again, is that necessary no, however i have three trucks and keeping them all the same is helpful at times. | | | | | Joined: May 2004 Posts: 150 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: May 2004 Posts: 150 | I'm finding TDC by using the finger over the #1 spark plug hole, then feeling compression when engine is turned over. As a backup, I use a compression tester and screw it into the #1 plug hole and turn over engine to get TDC according to when gauge shows highest compression. | | |
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