I installed new distributor/cap and rotor. already had plug wires and coil. When i go to start it, it won't start,just do a faint backfire sound through exhaust. Am i 180 degrees off?? I am at work so i can't try to redo it now,just looking to see if this is what maybe happening.

 

Did you place the rotor in the same orientation as the old one? and did you turn the engine when the distributor was removed? Did you use a timing light to get the timing right?

If the rotor placement is the same and the engine was not turned, the timing is probably not quite right. If you don't have a light, you can probably turn the distributor housing a little, first one way and then the other (if needed) to get the engine fired. I still recomend doing your final timing with a timing light.

Also, did you remove the "resistor wire" from the circuit? (if changing from points to electronic)

 

make sure your firing sequence is correct

 

will do the timoing light, if i can get it started. I lined up number 1, with the timing line on the crankwhere it should be.The wires are in the correct order. The one thing i didn't check was to see if the number 1 piston was up when i installed distributor.

 

Tip - You can use the timing light before starting to check your initial timing as well as after starting.

Did you turn the crank up to TDC before or after removing the distributor? This is very important concerning what you need to do to get the engine timed properly.

It is a 50 / 50 chance (of course) that the #1 piston is at TDC in firing position. (Murphy's law says that the engine will be 180 degrees out, which always seems to be the case for me)

You can verify this by removing the #1 sparkplug, sticking the end of your finger in the hole, and having a helper bump the starter until you feel the compression start to go past your finger, when the timing marks next allign, you will be at TDC of the firing stroke.