distributor reinstall
 

So I puled the distributor out of the block last week on my 85, without noting its position. (I know, I know).

Now while trying to adjust the valves, I can;t correlate TDC on cylinder#1 with any marks on the pulley, so I'm assuming I put the distributor back in the wrong place, by at least a tooth or probably more.

How can I get it back to the proper position? I'm dreading the answer.


-Matt

Relax...

Have a beer tp calm your nerve.

Remove the dizy again.

Turn your crank to Z1 TDC position. remove the intake valve cover on the left. Feel that there is some slight movement of the rocker arm on #1. If so, that is TDC for #1.

Reinstall the dizzy, making sure that the rotor points to the mark on the dizzy body when you have it all the way down into the engine. It should be pointing up and not down.

The crank pulley will come to TDC twice.
You want TDC so that the valves on cyl. 1 are closed ( should be able to wiggle the rockers)
Once you have the correct TDC drop the dist. in so that the rotor is pointing at the notch on the lip of the dist. ( should point at the # 1 plug wire).

Beer at 10 am at work, I think is frowned on, unfortunately. Good idea though.

I think I have it. The rotor is not pointed slightly before the mark on the housing.

Sound right?

Does this look about right? Looks like a few degrees BTDC.

This is my '86.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1364918241.jpg

Sorry, pics this time.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1364918245.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1364918257.jpg

Relax, this isn't a big probem. I'll start with the basics.

There are three timing marks (notches) on the crankshaft pulley. These marks indicate the TDC points for the three pairs of cylinders. There is also a notch on the fan housing; this notch is the alignment point for the timing notches on the crankshaft pulley. The "Z1" mark indicates TDC of cylinders #1 and #4. The Firing order is 1-6-2-4-3-5.

With the distributor out, turn the crankshaft clockwise with a 19mm wrench so that cylinder #1 (driver’s side rear) is at TDC when the Z1 mark aligns with the notch on the fan housing. To assure that you are at TDC for cylinder # 1, remove spark plug #1 and stick a dowel in the hole. Turn the engine over by hand, clockwise only, until you can see the dowel pushed up to its maximum height. This will indicate TDC for cylinder # 1.

Install the distributor so the rotor points just before the notch on the distributor body at ignition wire #1.

* Remember, the Z1 mark on the crankshaft pulley represents the TDC point for BOTH cylinders #1 and #4, so you need to make sure it points to cylinder #1. The dowel trick works great.

Final timing check should be done with a timing light hooked up to the plug wire for spark plug #1

Not exactly. The piston is at the top of it's travel twice during when Z1 is at TDC. The pulley rotates twice (720 degrees) for a full cycle. There are two ways to know if you are at TDC for #1 when the Z1 mark is lined up. One is to look/wiggle the valves on #1 they should both be closed and you should be able to slightly wiggle the rockers. The other is to look at which way the rotor is pointed (much easier) and it should be pointing at the mark shown in some of the earlier posts.

If you are off a tooth, it's not a big deal. Often the engine will run, but not well. Move one tooth and retry and it will either run better or not at all.

Easier way to verify that it is on TDC compression cycle is to loosen Plug #1 and turn cranck clockwise towards Z! mark and listen for the hiss. If on overlap there will be no hiss.