a rookie removed dizzy w/out marking...now what?
 

i removed the alternator in my '84 targa to have it rebuilt and thought i would clean up the housing, fan and the strap...so i pulled the distributor out to get the strap out...rookie mistake...i didn't mark the position of the rotor. i know the rotor moved while it was out and now the car wont start. what do i do now?

crank the engine over by hand on the fan nut while holding the belt until you get to the Z1 TDC mark. Slide the dizzy back in with the rotor pointing to the #1 cylinder mark. Try firing it up, if this doesnt work your 180 degrees off so take the dizzy out and crank the engine once more to the Z1 tdc mark and reinstall the dizzy with the rotor pointing to the #1 cylinder mark on the dizzy. Hope that helps. You could also take off the upper left valve cover and use a mirror to see whether or not your #1 intake valve is closed or not, that will let you know if your at TDC or not.

Buy Waynes' 2 books.

I don't know how to dead time that yr dizzy? Rotor position to #1 is easy.

On an '84 I don't think that there is a timing adjustment, so as long as you get it pointing @ #1 plug @ TDC Z1 you will be fine. Like someone else said, you have a 50/50 of getting it right w/ 1 try, 100% w/ 2. :cool:

Just do what Porschekid advises. Only make sure you only turn the fan nut in a clockwise direction.

There's a hair line mark on the rim of the dizzy that tells you where #1 is supposed to be. So make sure the rotor is pointed at that line when you reinstall.

Cheers,

Joe

yee haww...muchas gracias fellas. it started right up.

little worried though. started to lightly smoke from the alternator, so i turned the car off and it continued to smoke for a minute or so, then dissipated. i was thinking it could be over-spray from painting the alt. housing when they rebuilt it or something similar.

fired it up after that and seemed to be ok...just needed to burn whatever it was off?

what do you think?

thank you again

I think you should do a quick voltage test on the battery while the engine is at 2000 rpm. Should be no higher than 14.5 volts.

You can also stick a hose in the number one spark plug hole and listen as you turn the engine over. When you get to the Z1 mark you should feel a puff of air if the #1 piston is at TDC. If no puff then turn it around again.