I have a rebuild 351C V-4 that I will be firing for the first time soon. I just got done tearing appart an old distributer to prime the engine before start-up. I guess I need to set the new distributer in with the engine a TDC on the intake cycle. Any tips you experts could give me before I fire the beast?

J

 

Sound like you don't even have the Dizzy in yet. Get back once you have done that and have static timed it.

 

Dizzy? Is that the distributer you are reffering to? So no advice until I have the distributer it. The dizzy will not be installed until just before startup due to the the "prime the engine task" which must be done just before firing the engine.

 

Yeah, the dizzy is the distributor. You can't static time it until the dizzy is in therefore you can't start it.

 

can't you prime the engine by sticking a drill down the dizzy shaft and running it very slowly to get everything pre-oiled? Is that what you are talking about?

 

Dizzy is a very lazy and unprofessional term used in this forum.
I've never heard it used in the real world.

 

who cares if you call it a dizzy a distibuter a buter or that thingie that's up on the front of my engine block with all the little wires comming out of the top and going to different stuff so long as everybody is on the same page. You never know the term may catch on look at "posi" now anything that is locking is called posi!

 

After the oil system is primed, make sure the carb has fuel (fill the bowls and accelerator pumps), and set the timing. I generally find TDC, then roll the crank until the pointer is at 10*. Set the dohicky with the rotor in it in the little hole and install the clamp, but make sure the body still turns. Mark the rotor position on the body of the dohicky or on a nearby engine landmark. You now have #1 located (some, like Soaring, say it has to be at 85.2493478537*, but it will work anywhere...I set mine up to make the wiring look better). Install the wires onto the cap in the correct firing order. Rotate the body of the dohicky until the rotor would be just starting to touch the contact in the cap. Give the engine a couple squirts from the carb accelerator pumps and let 'er rip.

You may want to have a timing light hooked up so you can set the timing right away...but I'm usually within a couple degrees which is good enough for the initial run in.

 

Then you haven't been on many engine forums. The dizzy is a very acceptable and common term to refer to the distributor.

 

I removed the drive gear and and all the stuff on the top side of an old distributor and will use that to prime the engine. Attach a drill to the top of it and run it for a bit until the oil pressure builds up. Guess I am just a little nervous starting firing the new engine. I still have to finish the exhaust, install the radiator and hoses and set the static timing, so it will be a week or so before I am ready. Part of the exhaust is on backorder.


J