This... This can't be right can it?

[mmmmgood79]

I wanted to tune up my 914. It seemed a simple enough job: front brakes, pertronix ignition, plugs, wires etc...

I assumed that I had a Bosch 009 distributor, which was my first mistake. after messing with the old condensor grommet and then the new pertronix grommet, I get everything in place and go to put on the cap. It does not fit. Frustrated, I throw all my tools down and shut my garage, it was time for a beer.

Two days later, I am ready to put the points, rotor and cap all back in and count the pertronix as a loss. I have my friend with me who has helped me through a VW Squareback engine rebuild as well as a few other maintenance tasks. We just need to put the distributor back in, set the dwell and timing, and then head out for a cruise. My distributor shaft only goes in one way, and we made sure to set the engine at TDC according to the Haynes manual (without taking off the valve cover, which actually ended up solving our problem, but not in the way you think). We put everything together and tried starting the car. Cranked but did not fire. We go through all of the steps and try again, nothing. We slowly check points, points gap, plug wires, TDC markings on the fan and angle of the distributor cam (from when you take off the distributor). Eveything checks out, still not firing. I finally decided to take off the valve cover and when the #1 valves are closed, the markings do not line up. We scratch our heads for a while. We (my friend) knew that if #1 was at TDC during the exhaust stroke, then #3 would be at TDC during the compression stroke. He then used the power of the internet to see if it was possible to put the distributor cam (not sure if this is the right name) in the engine case backwards, which it is. We switched the Distributor cap wires to hit starting at #3 TDC and the car fired right up. We timed it and took it for a spin. No problems. Is this something that I should be worried about? I am beginning to second guess how I removed the plug wires in the first place, and whether they were put on according to the manual, which doesn't make sense because it ran fine to begin with. It is nice to have it back on the road again, but I hope that I am not doing any more damage.

[mmmmgood79]

Sorry,

it is a 1975 914 2.0

[Joe Ricard]

if it's firing 1-4-3-2 and the car runs then it doesn't really matter where things line up. It will still time in the right spot off #1 plug wire tothe marks on the fan. THOSE ARE CONSTANT.