hi, i was wondering the correct way to install the distributor from start to finish. I did it the way in my chiltons but wasnt very clear to me and maybe messed something up here. Also i found tdc by removing the #1 sparkplug and waiting till it pushes of air and then when it starts to suck, and back it up to where it just stops pushing air out. Please explain i tried search but found no good tips.

 

Put number one cylinder to top dead center, (this is where the air technique comes in) then point the rotor to that one cylinder and stab it right in, and bolt it down and your done.

 

the one cylinder on the cap, or point the rotor to the #1 cylinder on the engine?

 

Did you already take the old one out? If not, you can just note where the rotor is pointing, take the old one out and stab the new one in there, making sure it's close to where the old one was pointing. Then just time the car and you're good.

If you took the old one out and now cranked the motor, you'll have to find TDC on compression by turning the motor with the #1 plug out as you start to feel air coming out, verify you're correct by looking at the balancer -- if you see timing marks near the pointer when the air has just stopped blowing out of the hole, you're in the right ball park.
Then, mark the balancer at the proper timing you want the car set at (I use a grease pencil). Turn the motor by hand so the pointer is pointing at the timing mark, put the distributor in there with the rotor pointing as close to #1 (marked on the cap -- pointing kinda at the firewall) as you can get it. Make sure you can turn the distributor housing so you can adjust the timing. If the housing is fully seated and you can't turn the dist. enough to get the timing right, you may need to pull the distributor out slowlyuntil you feel the dist. gear come off of the cam gear and turn the rotor slightly, the proper way so as to gain more turning room.

Hope this helps...if you need clarification on something, let me know.

- Jeff

 

thanks alot guys.