Distributor installation question...
 

So what am I overlooking here?

I am in the process of rebuilding my 2.0L and am at the distributor installation process. I located TDC, installed the dist. driveshaft with offset slot at approx 12 degrees (as the manuals say) and 'small' section towards the oil cooler, then slid the dist. on. The rotor points as shown, neither towards the sheet metal screw nor towards the mark on the distributor rim. Every manual I have shows the distributor rim mark towards the sheet metal screw and the rotor pointing to both. My questions are: 1) Why is the 'mark' seemingly 180 degrees off, and 2) if engine is at TDC and dist. driveshaft are installed correctly, why is the rotor pointing where it is?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1063090695.jpg

Thanks in advance for your help.

In reality, it doesn't make any difference where the rotor is positioned as long as you start the firing order from that point. You must have enough swing in the dizzy to set the advance without anything binding the rotation (like the vac advance)

I would guess that your dizzy drive is a few teeth off or your engine is not set at TDC #1

Judging from the picture the body of the distributor needs to turn clockwise about 30 or so degrees so that the vacuum advance is over top of the distrbutor hold down stud and nut...

This will get you closer to the correct timing location, and you can access the hold down lock nut...

Yep, loosen the clamping ring and rotate the distributor body clockwise until the rotor lines up with the notch. If you have the engine at TDC you should be close enough to get the engine to at least fire and maybe start.

The ROTOR is pointing #4 which to me indicates you at TDC with # 4. #4 & #1 are at TDC at the same time BUT only one is in postion for ingition. Rotate the crank till #1 comes back to TDC and see if the ROTOR is in the right position.

Ken

From what I see (The firewall is to the right of the pic NOT the top of the pic) so the rotor is perfectly pointing the correct direction for TDC #1. Like stated above. All you need to do is basically turn the dizzy, not the rotor till the line on the dizzy is inline with the rotor and you should be spot on for starting and fine tuning.

The rotor in your pic is exactly pointing the direction mine does when I am at TDC on #1.


Here is the best pic I could find. I rotated the pic so its using the same angle as the one above:

http://lib.nmsu.edu/~clandt/914parts/914_Dist_TDC.jpg

Hummm - made a mistake

Vacuum advance should be over the hold down nut - so rotating CW will do that.

Ken

Thanks
 

Thanks guys for all your help. Chris, the pictoral-comparison is most appreciated as well.

I now set forth on the mentally-challenging task of rotating the dist. clockwise a few degrees. doh!

Wish me luck.. ;)

Ryan