question about TDC mark on .050 distributor

[SGB]

Argghh! Screwed up my timing the other day and now I've lost all my marbles trying to get this thing running again. I look at the PP tech articles and see that the TDC mark (and rotor when at TDC) points approx 12 oclock. Is this true for a .050 ? Fan mark, Valve slackness and depth to top of piston in no. 1 ("pencil test") seem to indicate that my .050 dizzy points to 3:00..... I've even got a few pictures of the engine that show the alignment about like that, judging from where the Ignitor things wires come through the distributor body. Now I'm conthuroughly fused!!!
Whats the worst that can happen if my distributor is waaay off? Will these carbs catch fire? I'm gonna go mess with it somemore. I'll check back later. Thanks (I hope).

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Actually, the "correct" orientation is about 10-11 o'clock, if "noon" is considered to point straight toward the front of the car. I believe that this orientation was chosen mostly to give the distributor a decent range of adjustment before the stock vacuum cannister hits anything.

Sounds like your distributor driveshaft is in there incorrectly. You could pull it out (hoping the washer on the end doesn't fall into the case!) and turn it to the "correct" orientation, or you could just leave it as is. Make a note somewhere (maybe a paint pen on the engine tin?) that the #1 plug tower points here, and don't fret about it. Just remember that the rotor turns clockwise, and the firing order is 1-4-3-2 ; so the next cylinder clockwise from your #1 distributor cap tower should be #4.

--DD

[SGB]

I wondered if that could be. Somone else assembled the case, but i didnt know the drive gear could go in wrong.

To answer my curiosity, should all distributors point to the same spot? Thanks very much.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Yes, no, maybe so. It's nice if they do--at least, if someone else ever works on the car. Less confusing if all 914s line up the same way. But there's nothing inherent in the distributor setup that requires that orientation. As I said, I think the stock one is mostly so they have clearance for the vacuum dashpot to swing around.

--DD

[SGB]

I'm thinking seriously about a Mallory. I wuz wondering if it would be roughly the same location as my .050 for tdc using it (relative to the rotor). Does PP sell 'em? I know, I should look, and prolly will, but....

[Scooter311]

I have a question (hoo, there's a new one)
Does the distributor notch on the 050 line up with the notch on the 009 when replacing?

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Scott, I believe that the Mallory will line up in about the same place. We were talking about carrying the Mallory distributors, but I don't know if we actually pulled the trigger and set that up. Email Jason or just call 888-280-7799 and ask.

Scooter, I also believe that the 050 will line up similarly to the 009.

--DD